*Victorious Clare captain Eoghan Gunning. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE are All-Ireland U20 hurling champions for the fifth time blowing away neighbours Galway in Sunday’s final.
Clare 4-20
Galway 2-16
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles.
An eleven year wait for All-Ireland success at the grade is over after Clare produced a storming display to set off June Bank Holiday celebrations in Semple Stadium.
Described by captain Eoghan Gunning as “a whirlwind of a journey”, Clare reached the promised land and final destination and it was no less than they deserved, en route they showcased character in abundance, an insatiable work ethic while the talent within their ranks has been evident to see since their 2023 season which resulted in All-Ireland and Munster minor glory.
With a powerful finish to the opening half and brilliant start to the second, Clare scored 3-3 in succession rocking the Tribe and ultimately putting themselves in firm position to lift the James Nowlan trophy.
An attendance of 9,103 witnessed Terence Fahy’s charges reign supreme and cap off a campaign where they emerged as the best in the country and the top side in Munster.
Far from used to doing things the easy way, Clare couldn’t believe their luck to have raided for four goals by the thirty seventh minute. There was nothing fortunate about it though as the side in saffron and blue were on top in most sectors and controlled the game apart from a minor second quarter blip where they failed to create a scoring chance for eight minutes.
Setbacks have always been withstood by this group and not adding to their tally was at the very lower end of the scale.
Graham Ball had a hand to play in Clare’s first three scores, scoring the first, providing the turnover for the second which resulted in Thomas O’Connor rifling the net with a ground strike after Paul Rodgers kicked the ball in his direction and the third score was from Michael Collins.
Galway got to within a point by the eighteenth minute but that was as close as they could get, Clare hitting 1-1 on the bounce, Paul Rodgers this time having the key roles. He won back possession and offloaded to Jamie Moylan, the Cratloe man tearing up from wing back before finishing to the net and the half concluded with a Rodgers point to make it 2-8 0-9 at the interval.
On the restart, it got even better with Clare raiding for 2-2 leaving Galway speechless. Corner forwards Cleary and Rodgers added from play and a sideline cut before O’Connor and Cleary raised green flags. O’Connor capitalized when a Fred Hegarty free fell short while Cleary’s pace saw him gather the ball at speed leaving Galway men in his wake.
Aaron Niland had been introduced at this juncture to try rescue Galway but even their senior forward could not make inroads against a resolute Banner defence. Questions were asked with Mark Sheedy and James Hegarty making saves on the line but ultimately Galway managed to rattle the net, not once but twice, Brian Callanan and Jason Rabbitte on target.
While the job was done, Clare kept plugging on and hit off an inspirational score from Ronan Kilroy after Paul Rodgers made a tremendous turnover on fifty three minutes for their sixteenth point. Hegarty, Seán Boyce and Moylan added to Clare’s account to cap off a memorable occasion in Semple Stadium.
In a strong collective showing, Clare’s full-back line of Matthew O’Halloran, Robert Loftus and Eoghan Gunning stood tall, Mark Sheedy remained a reliable anchor, Graham Ball was exceptional with his use of possession with Paul Rodgers setting the way up front.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Scorers for Clare: Fred Hegarty 0-7 (3f, 1 65), Thomas O’Connor 2-0, Marco Cleary 1-2, Jamie Moylan 1-1, Paul Rodgers 0-4 (1s/l), Ronan Kilroy 0-2, Michael Collins 0-2, Graham Ball 0-1, Seán Boyce 0-1.
Scorers for Galway: Brian Callanan 1-2, Jason Rabbitte 1-2, Jack Shaughnessy 0-5 (3f, 1 65), Aaron Niland 0-4 (2f, 1 65), Michael Burke 0-1, Cullen Killeen 0-1, Ciarán Leen 0-1.
Clare:
1: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge)
3: Robert Loftus (Éire Óg)
4: Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
2: Eoghan Gunning (Broadford)
5: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe)
6: James Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
7: Ryan Hayes (Tulla)
8: Daniel Costelloe (Ballyea)
9: Graham Ball (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
11: Michael Collins (Clonlara)
10: Ronan Kilroy (Banner)
12: Fred Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
15: Paul Rodgers (Scariff)
14: Thomas O’Connor (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
13: Marco Cleary (Éire Óg)
Subs:
21: Darren Moroney (Éire Óg) for Costelloe (46)
17: Ronan Keane (Killanena) for Hayes (49)
19: Seán Boyce (O’Callaghans Mills) for O’Connor (55)
20: Jack Mescall (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Collins (60)
18: Seán Arthur (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Cleary (60)
Galway:
1: Chris Callanan (Clarinbridge)
3: Michael Fallon (Clarinbridge)
4: Ed O’Reilly (Liam Mellows)
2: Thomas Blake (Oranmore-Maree)
6: Donnacha Campbell (Cappataggle)
5: Jonah Donnellan (Padraig Pearses)
7: Gavin Maher (Loughrea)
9: Cullen Killeen (Loughrea)
8: Michael Burke (Mountbellow Moylough)
10: Luke Kennedy (Ahascragh Fohenagh)
11: Darragh Counihan (Clarinbridge)
12: Jack Shaughnessy (Clarinbridge)
13: Vince Morgan (Loughrea)
22: Jason Rabbitte (Athenry)
14: Brian Callanan (Ardrahan)
Subs:
24: Aaron Niland (Clarinbridge) for Killeen (32)
18: Gearoid King (Castlegar) for Campbell (39)
21: Seán Moran (Castlegar) for M Burke (42)
15: Ciarán Leen (Craughwell) for Kennedy (46)
23: Ronan Cahalan (Killimordaly) for Maher (51)
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
