Athenry state their intention

Twenty minutes into yesterday's Galway hurling final Sarsfields had a six-point lead and their opponents were sluggish and playing badly. But even then Athenry looked like the only team that could win.

This time last year Clarinbridge had stung the new order, denying Athenry a fourth county title in succession. From the outset of this campaign, though, there were signs Athenry had already refused to be stung twice. It's not just the Galway title they're thinking of winning back, but the All-Ireland title as well.

Even when Sarsfields turned the half with a five-point lead, with the wind they had enjoyed in the backs dropping, the outcome still seemed weighted by fate. Within eight minutes of the restart Athenry had opened stride and hit the front, and for the rest of the afternoon the fat lady was clearing her throat, and waiting . . .

There were some false hopes for Sarsfields, hopes that they could yet relive the past glories last witnessed in 1997. Joe Cooney, at 37, still has plenty of magic left in his wrists and when he slipped a free into the top right corner of the net in the 49th minute to re-establish a slim lead, Athenry had to go back to the well again.

And, unlike Sarfields, there was plenty left to draw on. Eugene Cloonan sharpened his free-taking, Joe Rabbitte produced a couple of trademark hand-offs, and Athenry moved up a gear. With David Donohue hitting the most impressive points from play there would be no second coming for Sarsfields.

With a crowd of just under 12,000 gathered in the impressively revamped Pearse Stadium, the atmosphere from the throw-in was tense. Unfortunately that spilled over into the play, and for the first quarter hour at least there was almost as much action off the ball as there was on it. But when two clubs who between them have shared the last nine county titles (before Clarinbridge broke through last year) meet there is no need to waste time on introductions. Yet in their three final meetings since 1989 it was Athenry who emerged from the last two.

In playing against the wind Athenry adopted a tactic of slowing down the game. Thus the first half produced little free-flowing hurling, with Sarsfields forced to rely mostly on the free-taking of Cooney and the odd example of additional potential from fellow midfielder Padraig Forde and forward Cathal Murray.

Still Athenry were struggling, particularly their half backs, and on 14 minutes the first Sarsfields goal was spun from a Peter Kelly shot, and finished with a Patrick McMahon strike. That left them four points clear, an advantage they would hold until the break.

Yet the Athenry nerves hardly seemed tested, and although the avalanche of scores never arrived the intent was certainly there. Corner forward David Donohue sent out the first indication of what was to follow with the finest point so far, and with that Cloonan and Rabbitte were finally awoken.

Their goal came in typical Athenry guise. Rabbitte initiated the move and the ball was played to Brendan Keogh at midfield and centre forward Pat Higgins, before Donal Moran fired at goal. Tommy Kenny made a near perfect save - the only problem being the ball fell between Cloonan and David Donohue. Both players went for the hit, with Donohue making slightly more connection and thus claiming the goal.

Having gained control on the scoreboard, Athenry started to squeeze. Cooney was forced back into a sweeping role behind the half-back line and from there his influence was limited. And there was an even greater void up front when centre forward Joe McGrath was shown a straight red card 12 minutes into the half after an off-the-ball incident involving Diarmuid Cloonan.

The only real exception to that lack of scoring potential was when Cooney stepped up for the free on 49 minutes and delivered the ball with sheer class to the net. Within minutes Cloonan had levelled, then Rabbitte had Athenry back in front.

Sarsfields got back to within two points on the hour when McMahon swept a long-range shot to the net, but it was Athenry who had the final score during added time with a Cloonan free. Forde could have earned a draw had his shot not gone wide, yet by then Athenry were thinking of getting past Four Roads and back on the All-Ireland stage.

ST MARY'S, ATHENRY: M Crimmins; M J Quinn, G Keane, J Feeney; B Higgins, D Cloonan, P Hardiman; B Keogh, B Hanley; J Rabbitte (0-2), P Higgins (0-1), S Donohue; D Moran, E Cloonan (0-9, six frees), D Donohue (1-4). Subs: J Conway for Hanley (48 mins), C Moran for Moran (64 mins).

SARSFIELDS: T Kenny; D Keane, B Cooney, P Noone; P Kelly, M Ward, A McMahon; P Forde (0-1), J Cooney (1-5, four frees, one 65); C Murray (0-1), J McGrath, P Garvey; P McMahon (2-0), M McGrath, P Kelly. Subs: A Donohue for Garvey (30 mins), W Earls for B Cooney (35 mins), J Dervan for Ward (42 mins), R Quinn for Murray (60 mins), J Keane for McMahon (65 mins).

Referee: J McCormack (Meelick-Eyrecourt).

Athenry ... 1-16

Sarsfields ... 3-7