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*Breffni Horner on the attack for Crusheen. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CRUSHEEN have been left to rue their second round loss to Sixmilebridge as they reflect on their exit from the TUS Clare SHC.
The Clare Echo’s online coverage of the Clare SHC is with thanks to The Temple Gate Hotel.
A one point loss to Clonlara ended Crusheen’s involvement in this year’s Clare SHC but it’s the second round defeat to Sixmilebridge that has proved most costly so far as their championship is concerned.
Eleven first half wides saw Crusheen squander an early two point lead as they let the opportunity of knocking The Bridge out of the Canon Hamilton race slip through their fingers. Beating The Bridge is never an easy task but it was Crusheen’s best shot in their last three championship meetings considering Seadna Morey, Cathal Malone, Barry Fitzpatrick and Colm Flynn were absent.
Speaking to The Clare Echo following Crusheen’s exit from the Clare SHC, selector Cronan Dillon’s opening remarks included reference to that costly Bridge battle. “We had to win by two points, we ended up losing by one, our lads fought to the end like they normally do and that is what we asked of them, we’ve no complaints, Clonlara ended up winning it out and we’re disappointed because we feel we left it behind us the last day against The Bridge, we’ve no complaints”.
When it came to the third round, Crusheen again started well and were four points in front by the tenth minute, however once half time arrived they were tied with their South-East Clare opponents. “When you’re down instead of up you’d prefer to be up at half time but we knew we were still in the game, we’ve good lads inside, situations like that wouldn’t stir our lads or stir any emotions, you just gather them up and at half time we knew what we had to do, we came here to do a job and we did our best to do it, we fell a small bit short at the end, I couldn’t fault the lads at all, they gave everything they had, there’s great resilience in them”.
Dillon added, “Today was the day we had to win by two points and we didn’t do it so Clonlara go on, we’ve to lick our wounds, we’re incredibly proud of the lads, they gave their all and just fell short to a Clonlara side that have multiple numbers, they can swap in and out with lads who can play in so many positions, move around the field and get into the right positions. I’m incredibly proud of our lads for what we have”.
A two-time Clare SHC winner, Cronan stressed the importance of Crusheen retaining their players over the next couple of years with a bulk of retirements imminent in the next three to four seasons from their experienced players. “You can only blood what you have, if we’ve one or two we’ll try bring them through, like any other club we’re trying to entice them to the fold, get them in there and give them valuable experience because at the end of the day the wheel of fortune will turn for every club, this club will lose players, we’ve some lads at the older end of the spectrum and they are going to go out but they have to be replaced by someone, we’re trying like every other club to entice who we can in, keep them there, we’ve got that from anyone who has come in, there’s a very positive vibe within our group so it is no bother to keep them because there’s great lads especially the older ones who can keep them in there, keep them positive and focused, all you can do is deal with the hand your dealt”.
