Date Published: 18-Mar-2011

Clarinbridge 2-18

O’Loughlin Gaels 0-12

STEPHEN GLENNON

AT CROKE PARK

Clarinbridge’s performances these days are akin to a magic show. Now you see them, now you don’t. Hand into the hat, out comes the rabbit. Indeed, such was their spellbinding second half display in this thoroughly enjoyable All-Ireland club senior hurling final yesterday, that their opponents, O’Loughlin Gales were left bamboozled by the ’Bridge’s crafty wizardry.

The result: Clarinbridge are the 2011 All-Ireland senior club hurling champions, and justifiably so. While they may have been outgunned and outmuscled in the opening 27 minutes, almost with the wave of a wand, they erased a five-point deficit to enter the break on level terms with a, by now, deflated O’Loughlin Gaels.

It all happened so quickly. Trailing 0-9 to 0-4, the ’Bridge struggled to secure a stranglehold on the game. Changes were made in an effort to spark a revival before the half-time break and when Alan Kerins was moved from the full-forward berth into the half-forward line/midfield sector, he produced the necessary sparkle and dazzle to ignite the ’Bridge challenge.

On 28 minutes, he pointed, before Eoin Forde added another seconds later. Although Alan Geoghegan responded for O’Loughlin Gaels, Clarinbridge were gaining momentum and two minutes into injury-time, they conjured up the perfect potion to their first half dilemma when Kerins supplied his brother Mark with a crisp delivery and the latter showed the decisiveness required to pull first time to the net.

The ’Bridge were on the move now, and when Mark Kerins was hauled to the ground three minutes into injury-time, it afforded them the opportunity to take the lead for the first time. While Kerins’ powerful dead ball effort was deflected over the bar, that point ensured the ’Bridge entered the break on level terms, 1-7 to 0-10, despite having been totally outplayed for most of the opening period.

It was quite incredible, but better was to come post the interval. By the end of the third quarter, Clarinbridge had raced into a 1-15 to 0-12 lead. Mark Kerins (three frees), impressive first half substitute Enda Collins (2), Eoin Forde (2) and Alan Kerins all landed some magnificent points, while O’Loughlin Gaels, for their part, were held to two Mark Bergin frees.

Clarinbridge were relentless now, and had assumed the air of champions. Their play was clinical and concise, while their ability to summon scores was just breathtaking. Mark Kerins – both from play and a placed ball – and Eanna Murphy kept the scoreboard well-oiled with further fine efforts, before Forde all but sealed the victory with a superb goal with just eight minutes remaining.

The final stages were nothing more than a procession, with the only real talking point thereafter the sending off of O’Loughlin Gaels substitute Seamie Cummins. Really, it was inconsequential because the ’Bridge were already looking towards the climb up the steps of the Hogan Stand.

All in all, it was a remarkable turnaround by the ’Bridge, particularly when one considers just how dominant O’Loughlin Gaels were in the opening half. Bergin looked a class apart for the Kilkenny champions, picking off four superb points, while in their movement and passing the Gaels always seemed to be a step ahead. Everything they did was effortless.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.