*Gary Brennan leading the charge for Ballyea. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
GARY BRENNAN has seen a lot in his sporting career in both football and hurling representing club and county.
Sunday’s smash and grab job against Éire Óg had the St Flannan’s school teacher catching his breath as Ballyea recorded back to back Clare SHC titles for the first time in their history.
His goddaughter Saoirse was among the first on the field of Cusack Park to celebrate with him after Jarlath Donnellan blew the final whistle.
Ballyea’s resilience in clawing their way back from three points down with fifty eight minutes on the clock even surprised Gary. “In the name of God how did we win that game. I honestly don’t know how we won. It was lost, it was all over really. Three points down with only minutes left. I just don’t know how we summoned the strength to see it out. These lads are just incredible”.
Often it is moments of pure skill and magic that can define a game but the former Clare senior football captain felt on this occasion it all boiled down to a moment espousing tremendous workrate.
“We’ve always said if we stay in the game we have a chance to win. We didn’t get the breaks but we just kept battling. When the need was the greatest we had the greatest. What Tony did out there with that hook, that was the winning of it. If he doesn’t make that intervention I’ve no doubt that Éire Óg would have won. The man just does it at both ends and we are lucky to have him.”
He told The Clare Echo, “Éire Óg battled all the way through, they never let up and for large spells looked like they were going to win but we just kept going and it’s unbelievable for the community to win another Canon Hamilton”.
Unsurprisingly, Gary stayed modest when discussing his own contribution. “Myself I was just happy to contribute something out there. I think I got a block in near the end but honestly I’m just jumping on the bandwagon. I wasn’t in a position to help out all year and only came in when the football was over but what a bandwagon to be on”.
