Reeling in the Years- All-Ireland title proves a ’Bridge too far for Gaels

Ninety seconds was all it took to leave O’Loughlin Gaels’ club All-Ireland title hopes in tatters.

No doubt O’Loughlins will sit down to analyse their performance, but all the time in the world may never tell them why it all went wrong at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.

Five points up after 22 minutes (0-8 to 0-3) they gave such a display in the first third of the final that it looked more like when, and not if, they would get their hands on the Tommy Moore Cup. Instead it was a Clarinbridge side inspired by the Kerins brothers who made off with the spoils.

The game turned away from the Gaels in those closing seconds of the first half. Mark Kerins gave Clarinbridge a huge boost when he lost marker Andy Kearns and turned a low ball from brother Alan past Gaels goalkeeper Stephen Murphy.

The goal, which came two minutes into injury-time, hurt O’Loughlins deeply - but it could have been worse. Little over a minute later Kerins tormented them again, rounding full-back Kearns (who had just been yellow carded), but he was hauled down before he could shoot.

With the confidence coursing through Clarinbridge veins, Kerins had only one thing in mind when he stood over the penalty.

The half-forward went for goal, but his shot was tipped over the bar by ’keeper Murphy. The big score was avoided, but the damage was already done. O’Loughlin’s had seen their advantage wiped out in a matter of minutes.

Worse was to follow, as Clarinbridge took the game by the scruff of the neck from the restart. Two Kerins frees, followed by an Enda Collins point, pushed the Westerners three clear by the 36th minute. O’Loughlin’s looked shaken, their confidence draining fast. It was all so different just half an hour earlier. The Kilkenny and Leinster champions exploded out of the blocks, using their pace and power to leave Clarinbridge rocking.

It took just 50 seconds for them to show their potential, Mark Bergin grabbing the opening point after a sweeping move instigated by some swift attacking play from Peter Dowling and Alan Geoghegan.

Bergin made it two points with his next attack before Danny Loughnane showed the confidence surging through his side, splitting the Hill 16 end posts with a fine score despite being off-balance. O’Loughlin’s looked good in the opening stages but seemed to burn through their energy quickly, allowing Clarinbridge to stay in the game.

Needing something, O’Loughlins tried to hang on from the start of the new half, but couldn’t find the scores needed to haul their way back into the reckoning. The Kilkennymen were chasing a six-point gap as the game moved into the final quarter (1-15 to 0-12) but Clarinbridge stepped through the gears, Eoin Forde sealing the win with a second goal eight minutes from time.

O’Loughlin Gaels - S Murphy; B Kelly, A Kearns, E Kearns; A O’Brien, B Hogan, N Bergin; P Dowling, M Nolan (0-1); N McEvoy, M Bergin (0-6, 0-2 frees), A Geoghegan (0-2); B Dowling, M Comerford (0-1), D Loughnane (0-2). Subs: S Cummins for B Dowling, B Murphy for Kelly.