Sixmilebridge captured their 14th Clare senior hurling title against their neighbours and great rivals Cratloe at Cusack Park in Ennis.
Cratloe’s impressive second half performance against Crusheen in the semi-final had seen they wear the favourites tag and when they raced into an early four point lead, 0-5 to 0-1 after nine minutes, they looked like justifying that rating.
Slowly but surely Sixmilebridge took a grip on proceedings and by the 18th minute they had drawn level with their neighbours at 0-7 each before going on to take a two point lead, 0-11 to 0-9, into the half-time break.
Cratloe landed the first two points of the second half but Sixmilebridge hit six of the next second points to take total control.
They led by five points entering the final quarter with Cratloe also forced to replace their captain Conor McGrath who was clearly struggling with a leg injury suffered midway through the opening half.
The foundation for this victory was laid in defence where Sixmilebridge held the upper hand against the highly rated Cratloe attack. Barry Fitzpatrick and Seadna Morey led the way in curbing the threat posed by Cathal McInerney, Billy Connors, Podge and Sean Collins.
Eight minutes from time, with five points between the teams, Cratloe’s Diarmuid Ryan saw his effort for a goal go inches wide.
The winners had the last two scores of the game through Conor Deasy and Cathal Malone as they sealed victory and a place in the Munster club championship when they will have a home tie against Waterford’s Ballyguner on November 3.
After the game joint team captains Seadna Morey and Noel Purcell received the Canon Hamilton trophy from Clare GAA chairman Joe Cooney in front of a crowd of 6,330.
Sixmilebridge; D Fahy; B Carey, B Fitzpatrick (0-1), N Purcell (J.C.); S Morey (J.C.), C Morey, P Mulready; E McInerney, S Golden (0-1). J Loughnane (0-1), P Fitzpatrick, J Shanahan (0-2); C Malone (0-4), A Morey (0-8, 7f), B Corry (0-2).
Subs; C Deasy (0-2) for Loughnane; A Mulready for Corry; K Lynch for A Morey; N Giligan for Shanahan; C Lynch for McInerney.
Cratloe; G Ryan; M Murphy, M Hawes, S O’Leary; D Browne, L Markham, D Ryan (0-3); C McGrath (0-1), E Boyce(0-1); S Collins, R Considine (0-2), S Gleeson (0-5, 3f); B Connors (0-1f), C.McInerney (0-2), P Collins.
Subs; S Chaplin for Connors; D Collins for S.Collins; J McInerney for McGrath (inj).
Referee; N Malone, Eire Og
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