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Jacob Loughnane watches his effort go over. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
Pressure of competing in the relegation series of the Clare SHC surpassed that of the county final for O’Callaghans Mills.
Beaten finalists in last year’s decider against Sixmilebridge, O’Callaghans Mills ended up in the relegation play-offs after failing to register a group win when competing with Clonlara, Inagh/Kilnamona, Kilmaley and Whitegate.
Securing victories in the second and third clashes of the relegation series against Clarecastle and Clooney/Quin was sufficient to see the Mills retain their senior status.
Manager, Donach O’Donnell said of their survival, “We’re just thrilled. It’s very emotional really, there was an awful lot of pressure on the group, so much so that it sometimes seemed a lot more pressure than when we were playing in the county final last year. So the group had to deal with expectations and after losing a number of matches, confidence was also low so I think there’s great credit due to our guys to dig out a result, in fact two results in the space of a week that kept us up”.
He was in no doubt as to what kept the East Clare side up in the top tier, “It was sheer character that got us through. I mean the weather conditions, the underfoot conditions, the wind, the hill, it was just really tough physically out there and we just about ground out the result in the end and just about deserved it too I feel.
“I think Jacob Loughnane’s scores and Cormac Murphy’s work-rate throughout really solidified a hungry performance from the lads. It gave us a platform and collectively they battled until the very end to literally get us over the line”.
