Kerins saves the day for Clarinbridge

Date Published: 02-Nov-2010

Loughrea 1-14 Clarinbridge 2-11

STEPHEN GLENNON

AT PEARSE STADIUM

NOW that was what you’d call a county senior hurling final. Some fine fare, intrigue, drama, suspense . . . all the ingredients of a memorable sporting cliff-hanger. While both the Loughrea and Clarinbridge camps may feel they let an opportunity slip to win this one – another measure of the true worth of this contest – the majority of neutrals will have no qualms about paying the entrance fee for the second outing.

Indeed, this was the sort of tie that had as many talking points as it had scores, with the closing minutes coming under particular scrutiny. With Clarinbridge clinging on to a fragile two-point lead, 2-10 to 0-14, Loughrea pressed for a score that would draw them ever closer – and they got it.

Fine play between Johnny Maher and the impressive Johnny Coen put the rampaging Gavin Keary through on goal but just as he was about to pull the trigger he went to ground. For a second, the stadium held its breath, before referee Michael Dolan blew the whistle and raised his hands for a penalty.

Views varied on ‘was it or wasn’t it’, but in fairness to Dolan he did consult with his umpires to confirm. In any event, up stepped 19-year-old Coen and showing backbone of steel, he rifled his effort to the Clarinbridge net for a 60th minute goal and a one-point lead. With four minutes of injury time to be played, the game was certainly up for grabs.

That said, if the penalty was a big call for Dolan, then the free leading to the equalising point was even bigger as Loughrea defender Vinnie Maher was penalised for a foul handpass. Again ‘was it or wasn’t it’, but the fact that there were others that went unpunished throughout the afternoon made it all the more controversial.

As it was, Mark Kerins pointed to tie the game and, although Neil Keary had a late chance to win it for Loughrea, you had to feel at this stage that this county final was destined for a replay.While a number of Dolan’s decisions came under scrutiny by both partisan and neutral supporters alike among the 10,000 strong crowd at Pearse Stadium, overall he handled the contest in a satisfactory manner.

If there were issues, it would be that he was not strong enough with his cards and a number of players can feel fortunate that they did not see red over the hour. For instance, Loughrea’s Johnny O’Loughlin – already on a yellow – could have received a second for a reckless pull just after half-time and a bead of sweat must surely have ran across his brow during the ‘talking to’ by the referee.