Water under the Bridge!
SIXMILEBRIDGE claimed a fourteenth county crown in Ennis yesterday, defeating fierce rivals and near neighbours Cratloe.
The ’Bridge were the superior team against a disappointing Cratloe team who were hoping to claim a title last won in 2014 .
But a more accurate Sixmilebridge took their scoring chances, while Cratloe were left to rue their wastefulness over the course of the contest.
Cratloe’s Conor McGrath made no mistake from the left wing in the third minute to grab the game’s opening score.
Brian Corry got the ’Bridge off the mark in the fourth, before Cratloe opened up a four-point lead by the ninth, with Shane Gleeson (two), Rian Considine and Enda Boyce accounting for those scores.
By the end of the opening quarter, Sixmilebridge trailed by 0-7 to 0-5 but they managed to draw level three minutes later when Malone landed a fine longrange point to add to an Alex Morey free moments earlier.
Morey then fired over another free from the left sideline to give his side the lead – one that was never subsequently lost. Cratloe’s McGrath did bear down on goal just before the break but his shot was expertly saved by keeper Derek Fahy.
Morey’s unerring accuracy from placed balls ensured that Sixmilebridge – coached by Davy Fitzgerald and managed by Tim Crowe – were 0-11 to 0-9 ahead at the break.
Cratloe grabbed the first two scores of the second half. Both were from frees by Gleeson to level matters.
But a pair of points for Sixmilebridge, one by substitute Conor Deasy and another from defender Barry Fitzpatrick proved inspirational.
Cratloe had to replace team captain McGrath in the 51st minute due to an injury picked up in the opening half and his absence diluted his side’s potency.
They did have a great chance to haul themselves back into contention with seven minutes remaining. Podge Collins soloed through the ’Bridge defence and handpassed to an awaiting Diarmuid Ryan. But the big teenager’s shot went narrowly wide.
Late ’Bridge points by the impressive Cathal Malone (two) and Conor Deasy kept their side on course and management had the luxury of introducing veteran 43-year-old Niall Gilligan into the fray in the closing minutes of the contest as he went on to claim his seventh senior county medal.
After the game, winning manager Crowe was full of praise for team coach Fitzgerald by saying, ‘Tactically, he is so far ahead. He is unbelievable,’ referring to the former All-Star goalkeeper and current Wexford manager.
Remarking on his backroom team’s preparation for yesterday, Crowe said: ‘every time you train a team you try to get it right for the final day – whether it is intercounty or club.
‘Fortunately we got it right. Inagh -Kilnamona (beaten semi-finalists) could have beaten us, Éire Óg (beaten quarter-finalists) could have beaten us but you know that’s our 15th victory in the last sixteen matches.
‘Today just wasn’t Cratloe’s day. We were ready for them and last year’s quarter-final was the key match in this campaign.
‘We needed to get revenge for last year. And they will come again and use this as a motivational tool. That’s hurling, that’s life. We are still great neighbours and so be it.’