O'Connor writes perfect script

Not often we get to hoist a brother journalist on our shoulders and hang garlands from his neck. In the last second of yesterday's compulsive All-Ireland club semi-final at Thurles, though, Christy O'Connor, scribe of note, made an extraordinary save which ushered St Joseph's Doora-Barefield further into unknown territory.

It was a remarkable intervention which marked the completion of a tremendous personal turnaround for O'Connor and brought reward for a courageous performance by his clubmates.

Athenry, winners of the competition two years ago, were left bemoaning a controversial wide decision in the second half and reflecting that morally the day belonged to Clare anyway. What splendour this competition turns up every year. Doora-Barefield, the latest on the Clare production line of formidable club sides, were little fancied yesterday against an Athenry side whose experience is matched by their depth. They won the Galway intermediate as well as senior championship last season.

The Claremen, by contrast, are enjoying a season of firsts. They took their first county title in 40 years last November and the journey into provincial and All-Ireland championships has been marked by wonderful tenacity and spirit. Yesterday they fully deserved their victory.

Athenry's decision to play against the wind in the first half looked either brave or foolhardy. When Sean McMahon floated an 80-yard free over in the first minute it looked distinctly the latter. Andrew Whelan added a point 30 seconds later to give the Clare side a start of unlikely fluency against more distinguished opponents.

That early transfusion of confidence was needed. A carelessly-conceded free narrowed the gap and then Christy O'Connor in the Doora goal had one of those moments which spook goalkeepers. He killed a high ball from the left wing on his hurl and then had trouble getting it off the ground in the goalmouth. It skeetered to Cathal Moran who unsympathetically whipped it home.

Doora didn't fret over it. They have a solid midfield which kept its head yesterday and a forward line which is fast, even if it doesn't score in appropriate proportions to Jamesie O'Connor's contribution. When things slowed down midway through the first half it was O'Connor's patches of brilliance which kept the drip-feed of scores coming.

At the end of the half the safety net which Doora-Barefield had been looking to hang suddenly fell into place. Scoring had been moderate when Noel Brodie smuggled a ball to Ciaran O'Neill, who needed a couple attempts to grasp the thing, but eventually sent a daisycutter skimming to the Athenry net.

Six points up going into a second half against the wind. Just about right, it seemed.

Athenry came out blowing up a storm, though, and clipped four points off that margin in the opening seven minutes of the half. With the wind at their backs, they left just two men in their inside forward line and crowded the middle third of the field to guarantee the supply. Doora-Barefield stood up to it, though, and the Galwaymen never nosed in front.

Jamesie O'Connor had a second half just as heroic as that enjoyed by his brother Christy. He picked scores just when the sensation of Galway breath on Clare neck was becoming unbearable. McMahon, after a subdued first half, came into the game and Ollie Baker and Joe Considine sustained their outstanding workrate. The effort was well spread, though, and when things got a little rough the full back line in particular produced some fine hurling.

Athenry will look back in regret at three key moments. O'Connor's sublime save at the death just as Brendan Keogh seemed about to shake the net is the obvious starting point. A tremendous double save midway through the half when the 'keeper foiled, in turn, Cathal Moran and Eugene Cloonan also stands out as critical. Then there is the incident in the 58th minute when Moran had a point attempt declared wide when most Galway partisans had already greeted it as a score.

Afterwards, Athenry were inclined to express annoyance rather than full-blown outrage at the point incident. Down the corridor, the controversy scarcely impinged on the Clare consciousness.

DOORA-BAREFIELD: C O'Connor; G Hoey, D Cahill, K Kennedy; D Hoey, S McMahon (0-2, frees), D O'Driscoll; O Baker (0-1), J Considine; J O'Connor (0-6, three frees), N Brodie, L Hassett (0-2); F O'Sullivan, C O'Neill (0-1), A Whelan (0- 2).

ATHENRY: M Crimmins; E Keogh, G keane, J Feeney; B Higgins, B Feeney, P Hardiman; J Hardiman, B Hanley (0-2); J Rabbitte (0-1), P Higgins, B Keogh (0-1); C Moran (1-1), E Cloonan (0-6, four frees), D Moran (0-1). Subs: S Donohue for J Hardiman (55 mins), E Brady for P Higgins (55 mins).

Referee: P Horan (Offaly).