Streetwise Gort capable of causing minor upset

Date Published: {J}

IT comes as no surprise that Clarinbridge are back in the Galway hurling final. After-all, they were hardly ever likely to fade quickly into anonymity given the exceptional quality of performance which characterised their trouncing of O’Loughlin Gaels in the All-Ireland Club showdown last March. They simply ripped the Kilkenny title holders apart in the second-half in regaining the county’s stranglehold on the Tommy Moore Cup.

For the ‘Bridge, it was all about getting the balance of their preparations right in striving to retain the county title. Even qualifying for an All-Ireland Club final takes a lot out of a team, while every opposition they come up against in the local championship the following year automatically wants to have a real cut at them. Johnny Lee’s squad have obviously come through that minefield now, not withstanding a close shave against Mullagh in the drawn quarter-final.

Their weekend refixture against Craughwell underlines the current confidence and self-belief among the Clarinbridge players. They appeared in some difficulty when only level on five points apiece three minutes from the interval having had the backing of the elements, but they were able to up the ante when the need arose and points from the influential Shane Burke, Eanna Murphy and Alan Kerins helped them to retire three ahead.

Craughwell were still in reasonably shape, but they were caught napping badly early in the second-half as the ‘Bridge quickly established a 0-14 to 0-7 lead with Mark Kerins (3), Paul Coen and Murphy all finding the target. They were never going to lose from such a commanding position despite Niall Healy raising a total of nine white flags for their neighbours. With David Forde a commanding figure at centre back and the movement of their attack a joy to behold at times, the champions were never in real trouble subsequently.

However, Clarinbridge can expect a far more exacting challenge in Pearse Stadium on Sunday. Final opponents Gort are a seasoned and streetwise outfit who should also benefit from having contested the Galway decider as recently as 2008. Their shock failure to come out of the group last year gave them a cause over recent months and Mattie Murphy’s charges have looked really purposeful and driven,

especially in their knock out defeats over Loughrea and St. Thomas’.

By their nature, Gort are tough and they will relish the challenge of trying to lower the colours of the champions. The experienced Andy Coen, Mark McMahon, Brian Regan and Greg Lally won’t concede space easily in their defence while, further up the field, Aidan Harte, the accurate Gerry Quinn, the tenacious Paul Killilea, Richie Cummins, veteran Ollie Fahy and young Gerard Donoghue are all capable of putting Clarinbridge on the retreat.

It took a late Cummins goal to finally fend off St. Thomas’ in dreadful conditions last Sunday week and, on that basis alone, Gort will need to find some more improvement if they are to capture their first county title since 1983 when the likes of current team boss Murphy, Gerry Lally, John Commins, Pearse Piggott, Gerry Linnane, John Nolan, Colie Rock and Sylvie Linnane were in their hey-day. They will be fired up the last and they have the capability (and hunger) to cause what would represent a minor upset.

NEW BOSS

The optics may not have looked great last week when the Hurling Board delayed the announcement of the new Galway senior team manager, but the eventual appointment of Anthony Cunningham caused few shock waves after the seven-man selection committee had run the rule over the St. Thomas’ clubman, Micheal Donoghue and Johnny Kelly in the interview process.

It was unfortunate bad timing for Kelly that the teams he was involved in, Portumna seniors and Killimor intermediates, were both beaten within the space of 24 hours ahead of being interviewed for the Galway post, while Donoghue’s candidature was probably hit by the fact that former Tipperary coach, Eamon O’Shea, wasn’t among his backroom team despite daily newspaper speculation to the contrary.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.