Clare fans are left feeling marooned as Tribesmen hang on for spot in final
THE double dream remains alive for Galway. Just about.
Maroon and white were the colours of victory in Thurles as the All-Ireland champions survived an everything-but-the-kitchensink effort from Clare.
Nine points up at one stage, Galway saw their lead whittled to one thanks to stunning goals by Shane O’Donnell and Peter Duggan, then watched as Clare wasted late chances, and struck at the other end when necessary.
With a 2pm throw-in in the old stadium, the town began to fill up from mid-morning with hordes in their county colours landing on the fabled Liberty Square.
It wasn’t yet noon when the queue for the carvery was snaking its way from the bowels of Hayes Hotel out towards the street, full with hurling people keen to get the dinner out of the way early so they could get a good run at the day, as d’Unbelievables might say.
The teams had met eight days earlier in Croke Park, throwing up a breathless draw befitting what’s been a vintage hurling championship, but for these counties to meet in Co Tipperary was novel for the sport. At stake was the right to meet highf lying Limerick in what’s likely to be a final for the ages. Tipp gone. Cork gone. Yes, Kilkenny gone, but Brian Cody sitting in the neutral seats, wondering whattodo with himself for the next month. Supporters from both sides had boasted on arrival of their confidence for this replay, but deep down the butterflies were fluttering.
Not an uncommon phenomenon on such days are mixed marriages, or partnerships, with one member hailing from one competing county and their loved one from the other.
Such as Brenda Bleach (Tuamgreaney, Co Clare) and Paul Coleman (Ballinasloe, Co Galway) who seemed on civil terms in Liberty Square early in the afternoon. “I’d say it will be close anyway,” Paul forecast, adding that
Thurles was a great venue for the replay after the Croke Park draw.
“The atmosphere is always better in Thurles, you can feel the tension.”
Brenda kept it simple for Clare. “We’re going to do it.”
Jarlath Mitchell, from Kilrush, Co Clare, and Kelly Lyons, of Woodford in Co Galway, were also there in opposing colours.
“I’m Limerick half my life,” Jarlath said, so he still has options in the final, whereas Kelly was upbeat about her county following up on last year’s breakthrough.
Senan Conway (4) was another with mixed allegiances, although the Kilkenny part of his half-andhalf jersey was out of commission for the day.
Ebullient
Frank Broderick had his thoughts already turning to a different double for Galway, football and hurling, with the footballers safely into their semi-final.
“We have to beat Dublin first!” Simple as that.
“Galway all the way, two in a row. That’s the prediction,” Bernie Broderick said.
Jim Walsh from Galway city and his wife BK from Kazakhstan, only one of them a hurling stronghold, were in ebullient mood. “Oh yeah, I love it,” BK said of hurling.
This was her eighth match this year, not counting the league, Jim noted.
“All the way from Kazakhstan for the semifinal and all the way to the final. It will be one of the best matches the final has had in the last 10 years, totally unpredictable.
“Anyone who thinks any better is talking through their arse.”