Month: December 2011

Na Piarsaigh 1-13 – Crusheen 0-09 at Semple Stadium, Thurles

IN THE END, it just proved a step too far for gallant Crusheen. The toil and tissue damage of a demanding second successive run through Clare and an unchartered march on Munster eventually caught up with the Blood and Bandages on Sunday as Na Piarsaigh’s fresher legs unearthed a remarkable last quarter turnaround.

There was just nothing left in the tank to fend off a rampaging Na Piarsaigh side who hit 1-7 without reply after being shackled by Crusheen for the majority of this tie. However, when needed most, Na Piarsaigh’s young guns came to the fore with David Breen (26), Kieran Kennedy (20), Kevin Downes (20), Shane Dowling (18) and substitute Adrian Breen (19) hammering the final nails to Crusheen’s coffin in a majestic final blitzkrieg.

It was harsh on a Crusheen side who once more had given their all in the pursuit of the Munster dream, only a year on from achieving historic county glory for the first time. And it appeared that fortune was indeed favouring the brave as Crusheen led by 0-9 to 0-6 with less than 15 minutes remaining.

The Clare champions had done their homework from the drawn game and by expertly curtailing Na Pairsaigh’s big guns up front up to that point, they could almost see the finish line in sight.

Teenage sensation Shane Dowling, who scored 1-7 in the drawn game, was practically anonymous under the watchful eye of Cathal Dillon who kept him scoreless for the opening 44 minutes of the game until finally converting a free.

Fellow Limerick county seniors David Breen and Kevin Downes were also well marshalled by brothers Cian and Cronan Dillon respectively and after missing uncharacteristic frees, a glorious goal chance for Shane O’Neill and totting up nine wides at that stage, the Limerick champions didn’t seem capable of unlocking Crusheen’s watertight safe.

However, in the crucial final quarter when Na Piarsaigh inevitably rallied, upped the ante and began to ask tough questions, Crusheen found the answers increasingly difficult to come by.

Their much heralded defence was stubbornly working overtime as usual but with little assistance from their forward unit, Crusheen eventually had to yield to a momentum filled Na Piarsaigh who only gathered confidence with every passing score.

By the time substitute Adrian Breen struck for the decisive 58th minute goal, Crusheen not only could not locate answers but were even finding the questions difficult to decipher in what was a ruthless, undeserved finish to an unprecedented year.

However, in the cold light of day, the real crux of where Crusheen faltered cannot be solely attributed to a faltering final quarter.

In the drawn game, more than any other performance, Crusheen were bolstered by a plethora of eight different scorers, with five of their six forwards getting on the scoreboard while Na Piarsaigh were over-reliant on Shane Dowling who grabbed 1-7 out of 1-11.

This time around however, Crusheen depended largely on their own hugely impressive teenager, Jamie Fitzgibbon (0-4) for scores, with only three other teammates contributing, and only one of those, David Forde, being a fellow forward.

Instead, it was Na Piarsaigh’s forwards who blossomed with six different attackers making their mark on the scoreboard and substitute Adrian Breen in particular soaring with 1-3.

More than that though, Crusheen got little reward or even ball rentention from a muted full-forward line

THIS coming Saturday morning the seeds of hurling revolutions past, present and probably future will be on display at Na Piarsaigh’s patch that could safely be said to have stood in the shadow of nearby Thomond Park until Sunday last.

There, they’ll be having a special visitor as club stalwart and Kilkee man Mike O’Neill reminds us in the first flush of this Munster final victory. “It’s our last morning of the year with the kids in the underage academy,” he revealed, “and we’ll be having Santa Claus come to see the kids who play in the street leagues.

“That’s why this has happened. The work that has gone in. The work that’s going in. As captain Kieran Bermingham said this was for everyone with Na Piarsaigh through the years and the work that’s been put in.”

So much so that Christmas came very early with this 1-13 to 0-9 win, a victory that completed a remarkable transformation for a team and a club that was down in the dumps only two years ago when they were pummelled by Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin’s Adare in the county final.

“We were beaten by Adare by 17 points,” recalls O’Neill, who was secretary of Bord na nÓg Iomáint in Clare in 1981 when Munster minor honours came to the county for the first time.

“It was a real downer and it was a joke around the city, ‘we’ll have Na Piarsaigh round of drinks now, three pints’. But, they stuck at it and they’ve come back. Sean Stack stuck with them and we’ve had this day. I felt very confident going into the first game, but it was kind of a damp squib for it to finish up in a draw.

“It’s terrible with your son (Shane O’Neill) playing. You can’t relax because you’re wishing every ball will go his way. I don’t know how he missed that goal, but these things happen. It doesn’t matter now.

“I thought we were in a spot of bother at one stage. We missed 1-2 and then a few balls came off the upright. I thought it was just going to be one of those days, but the lads kept working away and we got the points and then the goal. It’s a huge thing for this club. Huge. It’s hard to describe and put into words.

“This club is only around for 40 odd years, which is nothing. Now we’re in an All-Ireland semi-final and it’s all down to the hard work that’s being done, week in, week out. It’s unbelievable.”

Time to party and celebrate Christmas. It’s started already, after all.

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.

IT WAS A heart-rending end to another memorable campaign as yet again provincial glory eluded Crusheen. A near perfect domestic record of one defeat in 14 over the past two years made them undisputed kings of Clare but their ascension to the throne of Munster proved to be a trickier stepping stone as a young Na Piarsaigh side carved out their own provincial history.

Of course, as in the drawn game, there will be some regret that they didn’t put away the tie earlier but as Na Piarsaigh rallied in the final quarter, Crusheen agonisingly ran out of gas as manager Michael Browne admitted afterwards in typical noble fashion.

“We are very disappointed. We were level with I think eight minutes to go and maybe at the end of the day, the youth came through and the fact that they had the slightly younger team and the quick turnaround in the heavy conditions, got them through. But in the end, we can have no complaints, the better team won and that’s it.”

At 0-9 to 0-6 up with less than 15 minutes to go, it was looking good for his side.

“It did look good and they had missed a couple of scoring chances and frees and stuff that they never do, and you couldn’t but begin to think that maybe it was going to work out for us. But in that last eight or nine minutes, they were just outstanding. They just hurled us all over the pitch and in every area they were on top and they were simply better when they needed to be.

“We were just out on our feet at the end of that because we had battled hard all through. Which we did and that is one thing that I can’t let go without paying huge tribute to this great Crusheen team. I mean they have come through two campaigns in Clare, putting county titles backto-back having never won one before that.

“This was the icing on the cake but yet, the sportsman in all of us meant that when you get there, you try and win it if you can. Having said that, this was a huge day for Crusheen, a huge day for our parish and we are all very disappointed that we couldn’t have maybe done just a little bit better. But they are a superb team, a great bunch of lads and they worked extremely hard, you saw that on the pitch and they are do the exact same thing off the pitch as well. So fair play to them but on the day, in the last couple of minutes, the slightly fresher, slightly faster, slightly sharper team won out and you have to take your beating as well as your victories.”

There was also the matter of a first half penalty claim that might have decisively altered the narrative of the game but again Browne was not about to grumble.

“At this time of the year, you are not surprised at anything because it is very difficult for referees and I’m not going to criticise the referee here because they have a job to do as well and they do their very best. It wasn’t easy. There were a few things that I would wonder about but sometimes when you look back on it on DVD afterwards, you realise that the referee was right.”

So what now for his Crusheen side?

“This team have been around for a while and I suppose maybe that is part of what caused the problem at the end of the day today that some of them have a lot of mileage on the clock. Even the younger lads have been playing senior hurling since they were 16 but having said that, they will be back and will be a strong force in Clare again.

“I have to pay tribute to Na Piarsaigh as well. A great team, a great victory, great strength and great character when they needed it and you can’t take from that. Fair play to them, we wish them well for the rest of the competition.

“I certainly think that they have aspirations to do so and with the different skills and character that they have got all over the pitch, you certainly would have to fancy their chances. But I’m sure Coolderry, Gort and Loughgiel would have other ideas so it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.”

Bounteous words indeed for a Crusheen man that was so obviously crestfallen on Sunday. But considering his impressive managerial record, Browne and his Crusheen side will be back gunning for county and provincial glory.

IN AN effort to alleviate the increasing problem of player numbers especially in rural clubs, Bord na nÓg Iomaint have put a motion into this Thursday’s AGM to allow clubs to play 11, 13 or 15 aside in all C and D grade underage hurling competitions.

If passed, the motion would help tackle the crippling problem of play er numbers that has previously prevented clubs from participating fully in competitions at the lower grades.

In line with the Bord na nÓg Peil convention last Tuesday that debated playing the Under 16 football championship during the summer, Sixmilebridge and Meelick are also looking for change in the Under 14 and 16 formats in hurling.

Both clubs have put in motions to switch the two competitions, with the Under 14 hurling championship proposed to move to the summer months and the Under 16 hurling championship to revert to its spring slot.

Clooney/Quin have also looked to bring forward their hugely successful Under 13 hurling tournament to early September ‘to improve the chances of playing hurling in more favourable weather conditions and that these Under 13 fixtures be included/incorporated into the overall Bord na nÓg fixtures programme for the season.’

After a mass turnover of officials on the Bord na nÓg executive for 2011, the current Bord na nÓg Iomaint officers under the chairmanship of Martin Reynolds are set to remain in situ for the coming year as they look to build upon the success of the backto-back Munster minor champions.

The Bord na nÓg annual convention will take place in The Auburn Lodge Hotel on Thursday at 7.30pm.

“PINCH ME,” says Sean Stack. “This is not happening. This team has come from absolutely no where.”

Sean Stack has brought them there – it’s no wonder captain Kieran Bermingham has just bellowed from Semple Stadium’s Ard Comhairle that “he’s the greatest man to walk in the gates of Na Piarsaigh. He’s Sean Stack. He’s a legend”.

He was before this day, from his days as a swashbuckling centre-back with Clare and his beloved ‘Bridge. “We won’t compare it to the ‘Bridge,” he says of club he won seven county titles and a Munster with in a 20something year career. “The ‘Bridge are the ‘Bridge to me and always will be, but his is a very special day and let’s savour it,” he adds.

And why not, given the journey Stack has brought them on since that 2009 county final defeat to Adare. Stack sifts through the stops on the journey like the teacher he is working out a lesson plan.

“Take us back to when we played Croom in the first round of the championship in Limerick and now we’re Munster champions,” he says. “No one would have dared to dream that even.

“We were lucky to get over Croom, but they’re serious, serious guys and they buy into everything they’re told and asked to do and they improved and improved and improved. To beat Crusheen, a serious team, I really stand back and admire them. To win a contest like that makes it all the more special.

“The final (2009) against Adare. Sad day. Twenty four months ago and to get a huge cheer from everybody there, having scored our third point in the hour and the hour almost up and we down 17 at the time. To come from that to this. I mean, is it happening? I don’t know if it is happening. It has to sink in. It’s dreamland.”

It’s happened alright, just as Stack sensed it might when wishing out loud after the drawn game that “maybe the tide is turning in our favour”. It did, especially in the final 15 minutes when Na Piarsaigh scored 17 without reply.

“Crusheen have a 45-minute spell in a match and then they start running out of petrol a bit,” he says. “That came to the fore the last day when they were tested by us. In last quarter of an hour the last day we were unlucky to draw the match – they realised that and we were very much adamant to grind it out as much as we could until that 45-minute spell was over.

“When they took off Davie Forde it was a bad sign for them and a huge lift to the opposition to see their main source of energy going off the pitch. That was a turning point.

“We had more on the bench and we knew that, but you have to be in the contest to bring them off the bench. Adrian Breen is seasoned and he was very disappointed not to be on the team today and he played brilliantly when he came in,” he adds.

As did those around him as Na Piarsaigh completed a remarkable year that has brought them county titles at under 14, Féile na nGael, under 16, minor, senior league and championship and now the Munster club.

“It’s a city club and how many city clubs are left in Ireland that are GAA strongholds, says Stack with pride. “Galway has been emptied for years, Cork is emptying out, thanks be to God we have Kilkenny and we’re hoping that we’ll start a new trend in the city.

“All we can do is work in our part of it and we’re working seriously hard there. There are great men in the club, men from rural origins, urban origins and they’re all dug in with kids from the age of six upwards.

“We’ll get our heads around the All-Ireland semi-final. We’re going to have a right rattle at this for the week, we’ll see after Christmas where it takes us.”

LOOKING TO the future was the main thread emanating from the Bord na nÓg Peil annual convention on Tuesday evening in The West County Hotel. Along with launching Clare Football’s Development Pathway that saw six new Under 14 divisional sides set up as well as Under 14 and 15 Regional and County Development squads, the AGM also embraced the recommendations of the recent Juvenile Football Club Forum that has paved the way forward for Clare football.

A new look Bord na nÓg Peil executive was also unveiled. Doonbeg’s John Smith assumed the position of chairman after outgoing chairman Billy Archbold had served the maximum five year term. However, there were also changes at vice-chair where St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield candidate Sean Lyons filled the role vacated by John Smith, and at PRO where Kilkee’s Jane Larkin replaced Anne Hayes who withdrew her candidacy just before the vote was taken, amidst allegations of pre-election canvassing on her opponent’s behalf. It was a claim that was vehemently denied by both St Senan’s Kilkee delegate Dominic O’Shea as well as Larkin herself who contemplated withdrawing her nomination as well over the allegation.

“If there is an impression out there”, stressed Kilkee delegate Dominic O’Shea, “ that there was a canvass done on behalf of Kilkee for Jane’s name to be put forward for the position of PRO, I can guarantee that is mistaken because we haven’t. The only reason that Jane Larkin is going forward for this position is not because somebody else is in that position but because it is something that she has expressed an interest in doing.

“And it’s not in any way a reflection of the way that Anne Hayes has done her job in the last year or over the last number of years. Everybody knows that Anne has worked tirelessly for the GAA and we feel the same way about that in Kilkee. There is only one reason that Jane is going forward for this job and that is becuase she is enthusiastic about doing it. There was no blanket canvass done by anyone in Kilkee and I can guarantee that one hundred per cent. So in the interest of democracy, we would love Anne to put her name forward for a vote to be taken by the delegates here tonight.”

The outgoing PRO repeatedly refused the request and after an appeal by chairman John Smith, Jane Larkin eventually agreed to accept the post.

Incoming chairman Smith in his inaugural speech, called on the clubs to aid Clare football’s cause in the wake of the forward thinking forum.

“This year we are embracing the forum which Eamon Keane set up. I think the recommendations that have come out of that forum are certainly a blueprint for Bord na nÓg to carry us forward. I think a lot of good work has been done with the divisional squads, the work with the colleges has been also done by John Enright where they are competing now at the top level. You have North Clare and West Clare who are competing at a high level and that is only going to be good for football in Clare.

“Before I was living in Clare, I came from Meath where football was very strong as you all know. My father was secretary of the club for years so I grew up with it. Football is like a religion to most of us and without football I don’t know where we would be. But we are depending on the clubs to carry us forward as well. And that came out in the forum. It’s important that clubs get in behind this, get coaches in and get the training because that’s the only way we are going to continue to grow in football in Clare. So I will do my best as chairman of Bord na nÓg Peil to carry us forward and to implement the recommendations of the forum.”