*Paul Reidy.
WINNING COUNTY and provincial titles has already made 2023 “an incredible year” for the senior football side of St Joseph’s Spanish Point.
Paul Reidy serves as principal of the West Clare secondary school but is also in charge of their senior football side. They claimed the Clare senior A schools football title on Monday with a hard-fought one point win over CBS Ennistymon.
Josh Maloney’s goal proved crucial for the winners who saw Cathal Talty and sixteen year old Evan Cahill kick three points each while full-back Gary Donnellan deservedly collected The Clare Echo man of the match award.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Reidy lauded the character of his students. “It’s just fantastic to win. Your county title is what you aim for all year. We have a long tradition in this competition and with this being a local derby it was amazing to come through in the end. It’s great to get a reward for the work done. These lads have done everything we have asked of them and more. We never gave up. It was tough and dogged out there”.
This is what he believed won them the game. “We didn’t take advantage of the strong wind in the first half but we never gave in, never stopped working, never stopped believing. In fairness Ennistymon were probably the better team out there tonight but these lads have great character. Look at Gary Donnellan tonight. Coming back from a tough shoulder injury and he was the best player on the field. Josh who couldn’t start due to injury scored an incredible goal and Evan Cahill who is only 16 to kick that point was amazing. He is only in transition year and yet he is a leader. We have exceptional leaders all over the field and it’ll take some team to beat these lads. They never know when they are beaten.
“We played CBS earlier in the year too and were down four points yet kicked the last five to win. This is nothing new to these guys. They have immense character and are a terrific bunch,” he added.
An All-Ireland campaign now awaits for St Joseph’s Spanish Point. “We have an All-Ireland semi-final to prepare for now and who knows where this incredible year will end. Winning Munster is always a bonus but winning the county is what we wanted the most. Tonight was amazing. The way we stuck at it and what a way to win it in the end”.
