Clare Senior Hurling Championship Final – Crusheen 2-13 Cratloe 1-11

Meaney makes history for Crusheen

Crusheen 2-13 Cratloe 1-11

By Michael Moynihan for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Monday, October 18, 2010

CRUSHEEN made history yesterday in Cusack Park, collecting their first Clare SHC title at the expense of Cratloe, a late goal from Paddy Meaney finally killing off their opponents. It wasn’t all glamorous goals for Crusheen: their much-vaunted defence held Cratloe’s attack in check for long periods, and that strength at the back, spearheaded by the immense Cian Dillon, was a vital part of their victory. Cratloe – who made one change before the throw-in, with Martin Murphy in for Sean Chaplin at midfield – defended the scoreboard end in the first-half but were rocked on their heels by Crusheen’s opening attack. A long free from Ciarán O’Doherty wasn’t dealt with by Cratloe and Fergus Kennedy latched onto the loose ball, drove across field and finished well across Sean Hawes. Two minutes gone: Crusheen a goal to nil ahead.

Cratloe answered with Conor McGrath and Colin McInerney points before hitting a goal of their own on five minutes: McGrath made ground down the left before popping a cleaver pass to the unmarked Conor Ryan, who slotted calmly when one-on-one with Donal Tuohy. Almost from the puck-out Ciarán O’Doherty drove out from the Crusheen defence to point from halfway Five minutes gone, 1-2 to 1-1. Entertaining fare. That scoring rate wasn’t maintained, unsurprisingly, but the two teams served up an entertaining game nonetheless to the 8,000 spectators.

As the half wore on Clonlara were depending on Conor Ryan to win possession for them at centre-forward, and the big man did well in the early stages but Clare senior Cian Dillon settled at centre-back for Crusheen and came to grips with Ryan. When Dillon settled to anchor his side’s defence the Cratloe scores dried up – from the tenth minute until half-time they managed just one score, a Conor McGrath pointed free – and even though they created space up front they couldn’t convert that to hard currency on the scoreboard. At the other end of the field Crusheen punished indiscipline on the part of the Cratloe backs, with Paddy Vaughan pointing three frees – and a 65 – but the men in red didn’t get another goal chance, even though Gerry O’Grady almost worked an opening in the run-up to the break. At half-time it was Crusheen one up, 1-6 to 1-5.

Conor McInerney tied it up with a point on the restart but Paddy Vaughan swapped points with Conor McGrath before edging Crusheen one ahead with yet another free. Then came a vital surge for Crusheen, when Conor O’Donnell and captain Gerry O’Grady nudged them three ahead at the three-quarter stage. McInerney cut that to two with Clonlara’s first score in ten minutes before Vaughan – inevitably – pointed yet another free. With the game heading towards the closing stages Crusheen were visibly hungrier and quicker to the break. They were grateful to corner-back John Brigdale for one or two vital interceptions, and on 53rd minute Cian Dillon put down a marker with a huge blockdown on Conor McGrath to repel another attack.

It was hardly a surprise when they got the crucial score late on. Tony Meaney snapped up a break in the middle of the field before driving the ball long into his brother, substitute Paddy; the latter deliberated for a split-second before placing the ball beyond Hawes for the game-winner. McGrath and Enda Boyce had late scores for Clonlara, but the last word went fittingly to the goalscorer, whose point set off what tradition insists we refer to as scenes of unbridled joy for the Crusheen club.

Sub for Cratloe: S. Chaplin for Murphy, 45.

Subs for Crusheen: P. Meaney for G. O’Donnell, 40; A. Tuohy for J. Brigdale 55; P. O’Grady for Vaughan 58.

Scorers for Cratloe: C. McGrath 0-5 (0-3 fs); C. McInerney 0-3; C. Ryan 1-0; E. Boyce 0-2; S. Collins 0-1.

Scorers for Crusheen: P. Vaughan 0-7 (0-6 fs, 0-1 65); P. Meaney 1-1; J. Meaney 0-2; C. O’Doherty, C. O’Donnell, G. O’Grady 0-1 each.

Referee: S McMahon