This article is from page 93 of the 2011-12-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 93 JPG
THE MOST glaring statistic that immediately jumps from the page is the amount of Crusheen puck-outs won by Na Piarsaigh in the second half. What the statistics don’t sufficiently reveal however is that the majority of those second half wins against the toss were in the final quarter which certainly bears out in the final scoreline.
Put simply, Crusheen’s inability to relieve the seemingly relentless pressure that was heaped upon their back-line was instrumental in the final quarter collapse of 1-7 without reply. Crusheen’s midfield and half-forward line that had competed evenly up to that point were central to the dam finally bursting when incessant pressure forced their defence to yield. Centre-back James O’Brien and Alan Dempsey in particular were key ball winners for Na Piarsaigh in that period but for Crusheen, the loss of David Forde was also an integral part. Jamie Fitzgibbon appeared Crusheen’s only ball winner in the final quarter and efforts to bring out Fergus Kennedy around the centre couldn’t halt Na Piarsaigh’s late charge.
Also omitted from the statistics graph below is the amount of goal chances repelled by Crusheen in that period. Donal Tuohy, Ciaran O’Doherty and John Brigdale all made crucial blocks to deny Na Piarsaigh an opening goal before substitute Adrian Breen finally make the breakthrough in the 58th minute that ultimately sealed Crusheen’s fate. Na Piarsaigh’s overall superior physicality and fresher legs in that final quar- ter came to the fore and it was clear that Crusheen simply had nothing left to give, particularly under such extreme pressure. Food for thought perhaps before Crusheen embark on their hunt for three-in-a-row of county titles.