Ballyea seal title of Clare SHC champions in dramatic fashion

*Delight is etched on the face of Pearse Lillis as he celebrates with Gary Brennan and Mossy Gavin. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Ballyea have been crowned Clare SHC champions for the third time after securing a dramatic one point win over Inagh/Kilnamona.

Ballyea 1-17
Inagh/Kilnamona 1-16
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Ballyea settled themselves on the start with Cathal O’Connor pointing fifteen seconds into the contest. Inagh/Kilnamona struck back in the best possible manner, a sideline cut from Cian McInerney was plucked from the sky by Aidan McCarthy, despite losing his footing the nominee for Young Hurler of the Year was able to get a shot away which eluded Barry Coote.

In an unusual twist, a David Fitzgerald effort which the umpires delayed signalling on was awarded as a point over a minute later. It would turn out to be Inamona’s last score for the subsequent nine minutes, during this period Ballyea amassed a return of 0-05, four of which were placed balls from Niall Deasy. Pa Kelly with a long-range free and a brilliant Gary Brennan score closed out the first quarter, at this juncture Ballyea led 0-08 1-03.

Inagh/Kilnamona brought renewed vigour on the restart and outworked their counterparts limiting them to a single score while racking up four white flags of their own via Aidan McCarthy at full-forward making it 1-08 0-09 in their favour at half-time.

Seamus Foudy soloes past Gary Brennan. Photograph: Natasha Barton

A very wasteful third quarter followed from Ballyea as they scuppered six scoreable opportunities. Their refusal to give in would prove pivotal as the moments ticked away. Niall Deasy and Jason McCarthy traded scores on the restart before David Fitzgerald fired a long-range effort which was followed by superb points from Josh Guyler and Conner Hegarty.

Arguably the main turning point of the game arrived on fifty minutes when Aaron Griffin was brought to ground with referee Johnny Healy awarding a penalty. Niall Deasy stepped up and slotted the ball past Pa Kelly to level proceedings.

Eugene Cullinan’s Inagh/Kilnamona replied through Aidan McCarthy and Niall Mullins but Robbie Hogan’s Ballyea fired four of the last five scores to ensure they would be crowned this year’s county champions.

Losing in a county final is always difficult and when the margin is so tight, the pain is intensified. This is the scenario Inagh/Kilnamona are now in. They had gone the entire season unbeaten but were hit by attack after attack in the second half, their fortune being the poor decision making of their opponents at times.

It will be an outing that Inamona will learn from. Not having Aidan McCarthy at full fitness was a blow but given the strength of their panel, it should not have been a fatal one. In the opening half, they outworked Ballyea but this crucially was not sustained. High performances set earlier in the campaign sadly for them did not follow through to the big day. Kevin Hehir, David Fitzgerald and Niall Mullins were prominent for The Combo.

Speaking to The Clare Echo before Sunday’s final, Robbie Hogan noted the importance of a team having the fire in the belly more so than having the skill in the wrists. No team has epitomised this more than Ballyea with their character once again seeing them over the line. Few teams if any would be able to cope with the absence of a player of Tony Kelly’s calibre but despite the All Star being confined to the sideline, the men in Black and Amber were still able to get their hands on the Canon Hamilton.

On this occasion, Gary Brennnan, Jack Browne, Niall Deasy, Pearse Lillis and Aaron Griffin were best for the hard-working winners.

Scorers Ballyea: N Deasy (1-09 7f 1’Pen 2’65), C O’Connor (0-02), G Brennan (0-02), J Murphy (0-01), A Griffin (0-01), M Garry (0-01), M O’Leary (0-01).

Scorers Inagh/Kilnamona: A McCarthy (1-07 4f 1’65), D Fitzgerald (0-02), J Guyler (0-02), P Kelly (0-01 1f), D Mescall (0-01), J McCarthy (0-01), C Hegarty (0-01), N Mullins (0-01).

Ballyea:
1: Barry Coote

4: Cian Meaney
3: Paul Flanagan
2: Peter Casey

5: James Murphy
6: Jack Browne
7: Brandon O’Connell

8: Gary Brennan
9: Stan Lineen

12: Cathal O’Connor
11: Pearse Lillis
10: Cillian Brennan

15: Aaron Griffin
14: Niall Deasy
13: Mossy Gavin

Subs::
21: Morgan Garry for C Brennan (44)
19: Martin O’Leary for Gavin (51)
31: Ryan Griffin for Lineen (55)
18: Aonghus Keane for A Griffin (56)

Inagh/Kilnamona:
1: Pa Kelly

2: Colin Shannon
4: Keith White
3: Cathal McConigley

10: Kevin Hehir
6: Jason McCarthy
9: David Fitzgerald

11: Conner Hegarty
8: Darren Cullinan

5: Seamus Foudy
15: David Mescall
12: Niall Mullins