Clare Senior Hurling Championship Final

Ballyea 1-17 Inagh-Kilnamona 1-16

By Eoin Brennan at Cusack Park

Ballyea returned to the helm in Clare for the third time in six years when a storming finish agonisingly pipped debutants Inagh-Kilnamona to the post in Cusack Park, Ennis.

Despite the long-term absence of their driving force Tony Kelly, instead used all their experience to eventually turn the tide in their favour, with a four point unanswered rally seeing the 2016 and ’18 champions hit the front for the first time in over 35 minutes on the hour mark.

It was enough to eke out a memorable victory but on the flip side, a cruel twist of fate for newcomers Inagh-Kilnamona who appeared to have victory in sight for long periods.

The decisive moment was undoubtedly Niall Deasy’s 50th minute equalising penalty that stemmed from a rare Inagh-Kilnamona defensive mistake that unleashed Aaron Griffin through on goal before being brought to ground at 1-12 apiece.

To their credit, Inagh-Kilnamona bounced back off the ropes with three of the next four points including a brace for county senior Aidan McCarthy at 1-15 to 1-13.

However, having frustratingly failed to fire up to that point with a whopping 17 wides, that goal ignited Ballyea’s challenge to new heights. Backed by the inter-county guile of Jack Browne, Paul Flanagan, Niall Deasy, Cathal O’Connor and Gary Brennan, they grew in confidence with every passing score as Niall Deasy regained parity for only the fourth time by the 58th minute before Cathal O’Connor and substitute Martin O’Leary nudged them in front at 1-17 to 1-15.

Inagh-Kilnamona did stop the rot with an excellent Aidan McCarthy free but they simply couldn’t obtain an elusive equaliser as time ran out on their comeback hopes.

McCarthy also provided the perfect early platform with an opportunist goal in the opening minute but it was Niall Deasy-led Ballyea had inched back in front by the first water break at 0-8 to 1-3.

That margin was flipped by half-time after Aidan McCarthy finished the half with the last four points at 1-8 to 0-9 and Inagh-Kilnamona appeared in complete control nearing the final water break in contrast to a profligate Ballyea when Conner Hegarty put his side four clear at 1-12 to 0-11.

Deasy’s penalty altered the entire contest though and from there, a persistent Ballyea were never going to let their perfect final record slip as they turned the tables at the death to dramatically bridge a three year gap to their last Canon Hamilton Cup.

Scorers for Ballyea: Niall Deasy (1-9, 1-0 Pen, 7f, 2’65); Gary Brennan, Cathal O’Connor (0-2 each); James Murphy, Aaron Griffin, Morgan Garry, Martin O’Leary (0-1 each)

**Scorers for Inagh-Kilnamona: **Aidan McCarthy (1-7, 4f, 1’65); David Fitzgerald, Josh Guyler (0-2 each); Patrick Kelly (f), David Mescall, Jason McCarthy, Conner Hegarty, Niall Mullins (0-1 each)

Ballyea: Barry Coote; Peter Casey, Paul Flanagan, Cian Meaney; James Murphy, Jack Browne, Brandon O’Connell; Gary Brennan, Stan Lineen; Cathal O’Connor, Pearse Lillis, Cillian Brennan; Aaron Griffin, Niall Deasy, Mossy Gavin

Subs: Morgan Garry for C. Brennan (44), Martin O’Leary for Gavin (51), Ryan Griffin for Lineen (56), Aonghus Keane for A. Griffin (57)

**Inagh-Kilnamona: **Patrick Kelly; Colin Shannon, Keith White, Cathal McConigley; Kevin Hehir, Jason McCarthy, David Fitzgerald; Darren Cullinan, Conner Hegarty; Seamus Foudy, David Mescall, Niall Mullins; Cian McInerney, Aidan McCarthy, Josh Guyler

Subs:  Gerry Coote for McInerney (HT), Shane McInerney for Coote (52), Conor Tierney for Mescall (54), Evan McNamara for Guyler (58)

Referee:Johnny Healy (Smith O’Brien’s)