At the full-time whistle, a multitude of Feakle players fell to their knees, not in disbelief but out of pure relief that they had finally ended a four decade wait to secure a first Clare senior title since 1988.
Everything about this performance was loaded with control and conviction, with the east Clare side totally dominant throughout. Their eight-point winning margin would have been far greater only for four excellent saves from Sixmilebridge goalkeeper Derek Fahy.
Feakle were more efficient and economical, but they were also superior in every facet of the battle, especially in the physical exchanges. Sixmilebridge didn’t look themselves but that was primarily down to how Feakle kept hounding and hustling them out of their stride.
From the first whistle, Feakle played the game on their terms. They came into the match as underdogs but they were calm, focussed and full of energy from the first whistle. They had a goal chance straight off the throw-in, and had another goal chance inside the first ten minutes, but Fahy made two fine saves.
From the first whistle, Feakle played the game on their terms. They came into the match as underdogs but they were calm, focussed and full of energy from the first whistle. They had a goal chance straight off the throw-in, and had another goal chance inside the first ten minutes, but Fahy made two fine saves.
Long Feakle deliveries were causing chaos early on, especially with the presence of Martin Daly close to goal, but most of Feakle’s authority in the first half came from the intelligence and slickness of their build-up play.
They restricted Sixmilebridge to just four shots in the opening quarter and led by 0-6 to 0-2 at the end of that period. Feakle were ahead by 0-8 to 0-4 when they had an opportunity to cement that dominance in the middle of the second quarter when Oisin O’Connor was hauled down for a penalty, but Shane McGrath’s strike was brilliantly saved by Fahy.
The ‘Bridge almost had the ball in the net at the other end within seconds from the resultant turnover but Feakle scrambled the ball of the line. Successive points from David Kennedy and Alex Morey suddenly had the deficit back to two. Feakle had gone 11 minutes without a score before quickfire points from Patrick Daly and Stevie Conway shoved the margin back out to four again at the break, 0-10 to 0-6.
The ‘Bridge almost had the ball in the net at the other end within seconds from the resultant turnover but Feakle scrambled the ball of the line. Successive points from David Kennedy and Alex Morey suddenly had the deficit back to two. Feakle had gone 11 minutes without a score before quickfire points from Patrick Daly and Stevie Conway shoved the margin back out to four again at the break, 0-10 to 0-6.
Shane McGrath and Alex Morey exchanged frees inside the opening two minutes of the half, before Feakle drove on with an unanswered 1-2, with the goal from substitute Owen McGann in the 42nd minute effectively putting the match to bed at 1-13 to 0-7.
The ‘Bridge responded with the next three points but they were chasing a runaway train by then.
Scorers for Feakle: S McGrath (0-8, 7fs, ’65), O McGann (1-0), S Conway, E Tuohy, O Donnellan (0-2 each), K Bane, M Daly, P Daly (0-1 each).
Sixmilebridge: A Morey (0-5, 5fs), B Corry (0-2), D Kennedy, B Carey, J Shanahan, L Fitzpatrick, S Golden (0-1 each).
FEAKLE: E Quilligan; O Clune, A Hogan, E Daly; K Bane, C Smyth, E Tuohy; E Noonan, R O’Connor; O Donnellan, S McGrath, S Conway; P Daly, M Daly, O O’Connor.
Subs: O McGann for O O’Connor (38), R Bane for M Daly (47), E Madden for Noonan (55), F Donnellan for M Daly (59).
SIXMILEBRIDGE: D Fahy, C Flynn, B Fitzpatrick, N Purcell; C Deasy, S Morey, P Fitzpatrick; J Loughnane, M O’Halloran; L Fitzpatrick, J Shanahan, S Golden; B Corry, A Morey, D Kennedy.
Subs: C Morey for C Deasy (25), B Carey for Loughnane (38), A Mulready for Kennedy (38). F O Braoin, L Kelly for Purcell (62).
Referee: J Mullins (Clonlara)
