All Ireland Minor Hurling Final 2023: Clare 2-22 (28) – Galway 4-11 (23)
Brian O’Connell’s charges transformed Semple Stadium Thurles into a sea of Saffron & Blue following victory over Galway in the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Final this afternoon.
The Clare Minor Hurler’s bridged a twenty-six year gap to capture the Irish Press Cup for the second time in this county’s history.
Clonlara sharpshooter Michael Collins was the first to split the posts inside the opening minute on a glorious day for hurling at Semple Stadium Thurles.
The Tribesmen had already registered fifteen green flags en-route to the All-Ireland Final and wasted no time in going for the jugular in response, with Aaron Niland’s long range free breaking to Jason Rabbitte in the sqaure who made no mistake from close range.
Clare issued a defiant response to the early hammer blow with Evan Price & Marc O’Brien finding their range to restore a 0-05 to 1-01 lead on the twelve minute mark.
However true to form , Galway would come raiding again and on this occasion it was midfielder Cullen Killeen who weaved his way through the Clare defence before burying a rocket in the back of the Banner net.
Once again Brian O’Connell’s charges responded with the character that has epitomised their journey with netminder Mark Sheedy smartly saving from Aaron Niland, before a combination of white flags from Marc O’Brien, Seán Arthur, Eoin Begley & a standout Ógie Fanning strike saw Clare leading by 0-12 to 2-05 at the interval.
Despite losing full-back Ronan Keane through a hamstring industry at the tail end of the opening period, Clare came roaring out of the blocks on the restart with Ógie Fanning showing immense bravery to finish a solo effort to the back of the Galway net on 31 minutes.
Aaron Niland & Michael Fallon then pointed to steady the Tribesmen’s ship, however a fortuitous long range free from Hegarty aided by the sun’s glare found its way to the back of the net to extend Clare’s lead to six points on 38 minutes.
The Banner would go on to capitalise on the momentum of the third quarter with Jack Mescal & Michael Collins sending Clare into a 2-16 to 2-08 lead with 15 minutes remaining.
The inevitable Galway backlash would arrive however and despite the heroic efforts of Eoghan Gunning & Mark Sheedy in the Clare rear guard, substitute Harry Holmes eventually found the net with a precision shot to leave just three between the sides with five minutes of normal time remaining.
However the Banner’s unwavering spirit was the main attraction in Thurles and the impact of substitutes sprung from the bench , proved vital with Eoin Carey, Harry Doherty & Newmarket’s Michael Power all delivering the insurance scores.
Loughrea’s Cullen Killeen reduced the gap to just five with yet another well taken goal for the Galway, however it was too little too late in the end as Clare deservedly ran out winners on a full time score of 2-22 – 4 -11.
Clare: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge), Eoghan Gunning (Captain, Broadford), Ronan Keane (Kilanena), Conor Rynne (Inagh-Kilnamona), Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge), James Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona) , Jamie Moylan (Cratloe), Jack Mescal (Inagh-Kilnamona), Evan Price (Clarecastle), Ronan Kilroy (The Banner), Michael Collins (Clonlara), Sean Arthur (Newmarket-On-Fergus)Ógie Fanning (St.Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Marc O’Brien (Cratloe), Eoin Begley (Clonlara)
Substitutes: Conor Nash (St.Joseph’s – Doora-Barefield), Fred Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), Eoin Carey (Cratloe), Mark O’Connor (St.Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Harry Doherty (Clarecastle), Daire Neville (Cratloe), Michael Power (Newmarket-On-Fergus),Joe Casey (Kilmaley), Emmet Mulcahy (Tulla), Padraic O’Donovan (St.Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Robert Loftus (Eire Óg, Inis), Conor Peril (Eire Óg, Inis), Osgar Dunford (Tubber), Conor Ralph (Clarecastle), Seán Boyce (O’Callaghan’s Mills), Joe Clancy (Tubber), Darragh White (Clooney-Quin), Daniel Costelloe (Ballyea), Pádraig Reddan (Clonlara)
Scorers: Marc O’Brien (0-07, 0-05 f), James Hegarty (1-02f), Michael Collins (0-03), Ógie Fanning (1-01), Sean Arthur (0-02), Eoin Begley (0-01), Evan Price (0-01), Jack Mescal (0-01), Fred Hegarty (0-01), Eoin Carey (0-01), Harry Doherty (0-01), Michael Power (0-01).
