Clarecastle keep their composure to triumph

Clare SHC Final/Clarecastle 0-9 Wolfe Tones 0-7: It finished with Brian Lohan roaming the Clarecastle goalmouth, hunting for one last moment of inspiration that might save Wolfe Tones. One more golden moment for the road. It wasn't to be, and in his heart the Clare full back would have realised why.

Clarecastle had deservedly claimed the most prized honour in Clare hurling, their eighth county title and second in three years. Before a crowd of about 8,000, Their more consistent hurling and more astute tactics won them the day, although they endured a few closing scares that could have sent the result the other way.

Wolfe Tones had four goal chances in the second half, none of which they were able to convert. Full forward Declan O'Rourke had the best of them as the clock ticked into added time only to be denied by John Casey's acrobatic save. When destiny is that transparent there can be no complaints.

In a typically intense final - overshadowed somewhat by the drizzling rain - the strengths and faults of both sides soon became apparent. Lohan lorded the Wolfe Tones defence before his late switch into the attack, with his brother Frank equally solid at centre back. Yet Brian O'Connell didn't exert his expected influence at midfield, and their forwards were fatally slow to click, reflected by the 0-2 return from the first half.

Clarecastle found their shape far more comfortably. Tyrone Kearse - only 20 and one to watch - moved from full forward to the wing and quickly put his stick to good use. He ended with 0-3 from play. Seanie Moloney and Derek Quinn also showed up for frequent ball in the corners, with Quinn's steady free-taking another vital asset in the second half. He ended with 0-4. Conor Plunkett did what he was expected to do and silenced Daithi O'Connell, one of the main scoring threats for Wolfe Tones.

And Ger Canny - the man they call The Badger (why? Because "he'd ate you alive") - was recalled for his first start of the season, a late change in the defence. Aged 34 - or more, depending on who you believe - he inspired his fellow defenders into a series of smothering blockages which proved increasingly frustrating for the losers.

Brian Lohan, as usual, found his every move passionately applauded, but Canny got the same response from Clarecastle. Their close man-marking worked a treat, and with Wolfe Tones unable to play the creative ground ball they so like, it didn't take long for the outcome of the game to become apparent.

Clarecastle were up 0-5 to 0-2 at the break, with Wolfe Tones enduring a 25-minute break between their first and second score. David Reidy, the gifted 17-year-old, was about the busiest of the Wolfe Tones forwards. When he saw more ball in the second half he made it count, ending with 0-5, three from frees.

That, however, wasn't going to be enough to save the Shannon club. Although they raised the pace of their game considerably in the second half, finally playing like a team contesting only the second final (they won the last one in 1996, and went on to the All-Ireland final), they still lacked some killer instinct.

O'Rourke found himself with one of their first goal chances, but shot wide. Daithi and Brian O'Connell later had others and did the same. A goal may have changed the game, but Clarecastle never lost their composure. Wolfe Tones got back to three points when Kevin McCarthy scored on 43 minutes, but that was as close as they got until Reidy finished the scoring with two long-range frees.

For Clare manager Anthony Daly - himself a Clarecastle man - there were plenty of names to put into the diary. Brian Lohan is intent on staying on for another year despite the new-found commitments outside of hurling and Frank Lohan has rarely looked more settled at centre back.

Youngsters like Kearse, Quinn and Jamie O'Connor from Clarecastle, as well as Reidy (when his time comes), Diarmuid O'Rourke and Barry Loughnane of Wolfe Tones, are obvious candidates for the Clare panel. Daly then won't have minded what he saw here, even given the winning ties.

CLARECASTLE: J Casey; G Canny; M Sheedy, M McNamara; J O'Connor, C Plunkett, O Plunkett; J Pyne (0-1), J Clancy; D Scanlon, S Sheedy (capt), T Kearse (0-3); S Moloney (0-1), E Flynn, D Quinn (0-4, three frees). Sub: A O'Loughlin for Scanlon (56 mins).

WOLFE TONES, SHANNON: R Carley (capt); G O'Connell, B Lohan, Diarmuid O'Rourke; B McPhillips, F Lohan, B Loughnane; B O'Connell, K McCarthy (0-1); D O'Connell, P Keyes, D Reidy (0-5, three frees); P O'Rourke, Declan O'Rourke, G McPhillips (0-1). Subs: R Hehir for P O'Rourke (23 mins), M Regan for McPhilips (56 mins).

Referee: J Healy (Smith O'Brien's).