Cluainin hunger drives them to Leitrim Hurling glory

After suffering  heartbreak over the last three finals with late goals proving their undoing, Cluainin made no mistake last Saturday as their grit and resilience saw them claim the Connacht Gold Leitrim Senior Hurling Championship title against Carrick-on-Shannon in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

In a game that never truly fired in the manner these contests usually do, Cluainin's hunger was manifest, their intensity and workrate a key factor as they frustrated Carrick no end and they had the greater assurance in front of the posts to regain the Stephen Dorrigan Cup they last held in 2021.

In a tight game that swung one way and then the other, Cluainin's ability to do the right thing at the right time was stark compared to a Carrick team who created chances but couldn't take them, the ferocious pressure brought by Cluainin all over the field forcing errors and the north Leitrim men certainly took advantage.

Cluainin's clever use of their bench also told down the final stretch as Cian McManus, Aaron McDermott and Eoghan McLoughlin all made big contributions to go with that of their teammates who set the tone early and never let up in their determination to bring the Stephen Dorrigan Cup home.

Martin Feeney was an easy choice as man of the match, influential in every part of the field and weighed in with three points. He had great support from Mark McHugh, Kevin Clerkin, James Rooney, Michael O'Brien & Dylan McDermott while subs Aaron McDermott, Eoghan McLoughlin & Cian McManus all had big impacts

For Carrick, Chris Flanagan, Stephen McDermott, Conor Hackett, Dean Earley & Dhani Keane were best of an outfit that never truly fired on the day

Cluainin set their stall out early and despite a wide from a Gavin O’Hagan free, Martin Feeney opened their account a minute into the game with a nice point. Sean O’Riordan put a free wide for Carrick but the game’s first turning point came just three minutes later.

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Ethan Clancy’s long range delivery from his own half caught out Carrick keeper Lorcan Donnellan, his attention probably upset by the presence of Dylan McDermott who tried to get a stick to the sliothar which hit the ground, rebounded off the unfortunate keeper and ended up in the net.

Carrick’s response was impressive - Chris Flanagan put over a free after a foul on Paul Lenehan and Dhani Keane made light of a tight angle, scoring from the corner as he went away from the goal to leave two points in it after eight minutes.

Martin Feeney used the wind that was behind Cluainin in the first half to great effect, scoring from his own half and as Carrick hit two wides and Cluainin one, it wasn’t until the 14th minutes that good work from Sean O’Riordan and Flanagan combined to set up Conor McLoughlin for a fine point.

Michael O’Brien’s great work set up Kevin Clerkin for a good point but Cluainin really should have had a second goal. Sean Markham’s run cut open Carrick’s defence but both Oisin Gurn and Christopher Guilfoyle missed chances to pounce for a goal, Carrick clearing the danger.

Carrick were starting to find their feet - a foul on James McNabola as he broke the last line of defence and was headed towards goal led to a Chris Flanagan free while Sean O’Riordan tapped over a placed ball that was moved up the field for dissent.

Turning point number two came on 21 minutes - a long delivery broke off Conor McLoughlin and Niall Crowe’s quick pass found James McNabola for a goal that propelled Carrick into a two point lead.

The Cluainin team who defeated Carrick-on-Shannon in the Connacht Gold Leitrim SHC Final Picture: Stefan Hoare

Cluainin’s response was impressive - Sean Markham fired over from distance before Gavin O’Hagan’s free tied the scores, the effort first being ruled wide by an umpire before referee Gus Chapman over-ruled.

Lorcan Donnellan did well to keep out a shot from Gavin O’Hagan but Cluainin were missing chances, O’Hagan and Feeney wide before O’Hagan converted a free from virtually the sideline on the halfway line.

Niall Crowe scored a wonder point, an almost impossible angle, to tie the scores with just over a minute left in the half while Carrick rightly saw a goal disallowed for a foul on keeper Peter Boyle. The half ended with Sean O’Riordan pointing a free after over-carrying, leaving Carrick with a 1-7 to 1-6 halftime lead.

That lead didn’t last long, Martin Feeney pointing inside the first minute but the game was never free flowing. Sean O’Riordan from a free that was moved in for dissent edged Carrick back in front, the defending champions looking the more likely at this stage.

Then came turning point number 3 - Carrick lost possession in their own half, as Paul Lenehan tried to retrieve the sliothar, he was bundled over as he bent down for the ball. Cluainin broke and with great work from O’Brien and Dylan McDermott, they worked the ball to Gavin O’Hagan who flashed home a goal from a very tight angle.

Now Cluainin were two clear but James McNabola reduced that gap to a point on 44 minutes from a very tight angle. The Eslin man missed a chance to tie the scores and Kevin Clerkin made Carrick pay with a brilliant long range score on 46 minutes. Four minutes later, the gap was up to three when Gavin O’Hagan converted a free after a foul on McDermott.

The Carrick-on-Shannon team who were defeated by Cluainin in the Connacht Gold SHC Final Picture: Stefan Hoare

Carrick came looking for an equaliser and they worked a chance from a Conor McLoughlin delivery but Dhani Keane’s goal bound shot was blocked out for a 65 that was put wide. A poor Carrick pass and a swift Cluainin counter ended with Michael O’Brien scoring from 50 yards to put his team four clear.

Cluainin could never relax as Carrick's Conor Beirne found James McNabola and another goal bound shot was saved with more than five minutes left. However, Carrick were unable to break down a ferocious Cluainin defence with only Dean Earley’s injury time point making a dent as the Stephen Dorrigan Cup headed to Manorhamilton.

CLUAININ

Scorers: Gavin O’Hagan 1-3, 3f; Martin Feeney 0-3; Ethan Clancy 1-0; Kevin Clerkin 0-2; Michael O’Brien & Sean Markham 0-1 each

Team: Peter Boyle, Mark McHugh, Niall McLoughlin, Aaron Mackenzie, Ethan Clancy, James Rooney, Paddy Clerkin, Martin Feeney, Kevin Clerkin, Gavin O'Hagan, Sean Markham, Michael O'Brien, Oisin Gurn's, Dylan McDermott, Christopher Guilfoyle. Cian McManus for Markham (35); Aaron McDermott for Gurn (37); Eoghan McLoughlin for Guilfoyle (45)

CARICK ON SHANNON

Scorers: James McNabola 1-1; Sean O’Riordan 0-3, 3f; Chris Flanagan 0-2, 2f; Dhani Keane & Dean Earley 0-1 each

Team: Lorcan Donnellan, Tommy Taylor, Stephen Goldrick, Shane Crowe, Paul Lenehan, Conor Beirne, Adam Gavigan, Conor Hackett, Sean O'Riordan, Dean Earley, Conor McLoughlin, Dhani Keane, Chris Flanagan, Niall Crowe, James McNabola. Subs: Tom McNabola for S. Crowe (53); Liam Moreton for McLoughlin (57)

Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo)