- This event has passed.
2023 Clare Senior Hurling Final – Clonlara 3-18 Crusheen 2-16
Clonlara defeated Crusheen by 3-18 to 2-16 in the Clare Senior Hurling Final on Sunday October 22nd at Cusack Park Ennis.
Clare SHC Final: Clonlara defeat Crusheen
Clonlara 3-18 Crusheen 2-16
Report By Eoin Brennan at Cusack Park for GAA.ie
Fifteen years on from their last title, Clonlara returned to the summit of Clare hurling following a fully merited senior final victory over Crusheen in front of 5,048 in Cusack Park Ennis.
Three final defeats since allied to six penultimate stage exits had forced the South East Clare side to ensure a harrowing series of heartbreaks. However, thanks to an exciting new crop of talent led by the sole survivor of that 2008 title win John Conlon, Clonlara completed a perfect six match championship run that included overcoming their final opponents twice along the way.
Being a first final for two-thirds of their team, Clonlara arguably should have grabbed a goal in the opening quarter, only for Jathan McMahon, Colm O’Meara and Ian Galvin to be somehow snuffed out by a miserly Crusheen defence.
When it came however, Micheál O’Loughlin’s emphatic goal entering the second quarter would have a transformational effect as buoyed by that release, Clonlara powered to the interval. Midfielder Aidan Moriarty, who along with Ian Galvin, had teed up the first goal for O’Loughin, again surged through the heart of the Crusheen defence for their second major six minutes later, this time offloading to 2013 All-ireland winner Colm Galvin to flick to the net on their way to a 2-7 to 0-6 half-time cushion.
Crusheen, who failed to be as efficient in front of the posts as previous displays, frustratingly struck 11 first half wides but did re-emerge with much more gusto for the new half, led by Clare Under 20 Oisin O’Donnell who crucially scored a brace of points before powering through for a goal at the turn of the final quarter at 2-13 to 1-13.
Having appeared in complete control up to that juncture, Clonlara needed a response and it relievedly arrived in the 50th minute when Colm Galvin’s delivery from the left wing was fielded by Micheál O’Loughlin to fire to the net at the second attempt.
Following up with three further unanswered points, O’Loughlin was central to ensuring a nine point gap entering injury-time.
Breffni Horner did raid for an excellent solo goal in injury-time but in truth, it was much too late to derail a determined Clonlara from lifting the Canon Hamilton trophy for only their third time.
Man of the Match Interview with Clonlara’s Michael O’Loughlin
#GAABEO Lán Ama
"Since November of last year there was complete and utter buy in!"
Is e Micheál O'Loughlin Laoch na hImeartha inniu! – Comhghairdeas leat Micheál!@clonlaragaaclub | @GaaClare
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/SsvUl4QLBi
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 22, 2023
Scorers for Clonlara: Micheál O’Loughlin 2-9 (7fs), Colm Galvin 1-0, John Conlon, Ian Galvin 0-2 each, Colm O’Meara, Jathan McMahon, Diarmuid Stritch, Dylan McMahon, Aidan Moriarty 0-1 each.
Scorers for Crusheen: Oisin O’Donnell 1-4, Breffni Horner 1-3 (2fs), Ross Hayes 0-3 (3fs), Conor O’Donnell, Fergus Kennedy 0-2 each, Diarmuid Mullins, Jamie Fitzgibbon 0-1 each.
Clonlara: Seimi Gully; Logan Ryan, Ger Powell, Michael Clancy; Paraic O’Loughlin, Dylan McMahon, David Fitzgerald; Aidan Moriarty, Jathan McMahon; Colm Galvin, John Conlon, Colm O’Meara; Micheál O’Loughlin, Ian Galvin, Diarmuid Stritch
Subs: Cian Moriarty for Stritch (50), Micheál Stritch for D. Stritch (58), Daniel Moloney for J. McMahon (60, inj), Conor Bourke for A. Moriarty (60+2, inj).
Crusheen: Donal Tuohy; Luke Hayes, Cian Dillon, Eanna McMahon; Diarmuid Mullins, Ross Hayes, Tadhg Dean; Eoghan McMahon, Jamie Fitzgibbon; Gerry O’Grady, Conor O’Donnell, Cilléin Mullins; Oisin O’Donnell, Fergus Kennedy, Breffni Horner
Subs: Ian O’Brien for McMahon (40), Luke Ketelaar for C. Mullins (51), Gavin O’Brien for O’Grady (63), Mark Perrill for Kennedy (60+3).
Referee: Niall Malone (Éire Óg).
Ticket Information
The Big One –
The 2023 @TUS_ie County SHC Final @clonlaragaaclub v @CrusheenGaa
⏰Sun 22nd Oct- 2pm , Cusack Park
📺 https://t.co/uWEDgyNIam pic.twitter.com/MUpzf9AVlU
— Clare Gaa (@GaaClare) October 19, 2023
Match Coverage
This game will be shown live on TG4.
GAA Beo na seachtaine 🔥
📅 Dé Domhnaigh / Sunday
⏰ 13:45
🥎 @clonlaragaaclub v @CrusheenGaa
🏆 @GaaClare⏰ 15:55
🏐 @Bodengaa v @kcrokes
🏆 @DubGAAOfficial⏰ 17:45 Deferred 📺 / 16:00 Live on TG4 Player 💻
🏐 @gaothdobhairclg v @NaomhConaillGAA
🏆 @officialdonegal#GAA pic.twitter.com/j2sQOHT9ir— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 18, 2023
