*Éire Óg celebrate after winning the Cusack Cup. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
ÉIRE Óg won the Cusack Cup on Sunday afternoon but despite the final score margin of fourteen points, they were extremely fortunate to emerge with the honours, upping the ante in extra time.
Éire Óg 3-19
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-14
(after extra time)
Venue: Clarecastle
Throughout normal time Doora/Barefield had the better of matters and had their shooting been more accurate extra time would not have been required in the willwego.com Cusack Cup decider.
The importance of having a strong panel was emphasised once again in this game and Éire Óg certainly benefitted from the bench. They introduced Clare panellists Mark McInerney, Gavin Murray and Oran Cahill during the game while Ronan Lanigan and Manus Doherty were rested.
Inter county man Mark McInerney made a huge impact following his introduction midway through the second half. Landing 1-3 in the final quarter, the goal coming from the penalty spot, he helped bring the game to extra time and from here on there really was only one team in it.
The game was nineteen minutes old before the first score was recorded, David McNamara on target for the eventual winners. Both sides had missed earlier chances with St Joseph’s particularly guilty as Paddy Bugler failed to find the target from three frees in good positions.
Tom Curran, Bugler (2) and Nicky Hardiman landed four in a row for the Doora/Barefield men who went to the break leading 0-4 to 0-2 after playing against the breeze.
The rivalry between the sides was evident as the players clashed as they went to the dressing room but, thankfully, things did not get out of hand.
Points were exchanged twice in the opening ten minutes of the new half before a Colm Walsh O’Loghlen converted a 13m free to leave the minimum between the sides at the end of the third quarter.
Ten minutes after the break St Josephs were reduced to fourteen men when Liam Clune was shown a black card.
In his absence DooraBarefield conceded just one point suggesting that they could go on and win their first Cusack cup title
Tom Curran landed the first two pointer of this final with ten minutes remaining but three minutes later the teams were level after Mark McInerney dispatched a penalty to the new after Tom O’Brien was penalised for a tackle on McInerney.
Donagh Vaughan’s side produced an impressive response, Eoghan Thynne and Tom Curran landing points. Curran and McInerney traded two pointers before McInerney levelled the tie as the game went into five minute of added time.
Philip Talty put the eventual winners into the lead but Michael Nash responded leaving the sides locked at 1-10 to 0-13. St. Joseph’s got the first score of extra time but from here on it was all Éire Óg who hit 1-5 without reply before half time in extra time.
The physically stronger Éire Óg continued to dominate in the second period, adding 1-2 without reply to seal victory and end a twenty one year wait since they last won this title, it is the first silverware obtained for Shane Daniels who took charge at the beginning of this year.
Aaron Fitzgerald, Ikem Ugwueru David McNamara and Mark McInerney played key roles in this win while Doora/Barefield had impressive performances from Sam Costelloe, Conor O’Brien, Michael Nash, Tom Curran and Tom McDonald.
(All photographs by Gerard O’Neill)
Scorers Éire Óg; Mark McInerney (2-6, 1-0 penalty, 1f, 2TP); Aaron Fitzgerald (1 TP), Colm Walsh O’Loghlin (2f) Philip Talty (0-3) each; Darren O’Brien (1-0) Jack Joyce (0-2), Davy McNamara, Luke Pyne (0-1) each
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield; Tom Curran (0-8, 2p, 2f); Paddy Bugler (1 f), Michael Nash (0-2) each, Nicky Hardiman, Eoghan Thynne (0-1) each
Eire Og;
1: Cian Howard
2: Eoin Guilfoyle
3: Aaron Fitzgerald
4: Dean Ryan
5: Ciaran Rysselll,
21: Ikem Ugwueru
7: Darren Moroney
8: Darren O’Brien
9: David McNamara
10: Niall McMahon
6: Adrian McGrath
11: Luke Pyne
13: Luca Cleary
14: Jack Joyce
15: Colm Walsh O’Loghlen;
Subs;
19: Philip Talty for L. Cleary (36)
23: Oran Cahill for Pyne (36)
26: Mark McInerney for Joyce (47)
25: Gavin Murray for McGrath (47)
12: Conor Perrilll for McMahon (59)
17 Fionan Treacy for Moroney (65)
11; Luke Pyne for McNamara (HT ET)
20: Alex McNamara for Walsh O’Loghlen (76)
St. Josephs;
1: Tom O’Brien
2: Sam Costelloe
3: Eoghan Boyle
4: Conal Dorgan;
5: James Curran
6: Conor O’Brien
7: Cian McDonagh
14: Tom McDonald
12: Nicky Hardiman
10: Liam Clune
11: Eoghan Thynne
8: Odhran O’Clnnell
13: Tom Curran
9: Michael Nash
15: Paddy Bugler
Subs;
17: Charlie Hannan for N. Hardiman (47)
18: Diarmuid Boyle for L. Clune (50)
20: Joe Mc Allister for P. Bugler (59)
12: N. Hardiman for McAllister (65)
10: Liam Clune for S. Costelloe (65)
15: Paddy Bugler for O.O’Connell (75)
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)
