Liam Watson inspired Loughgiel to their second All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling Championship title as they beat Coolderry by 4-13 to 0-17 at Croke Park.
The Antrim star finished with a 3-07 tally as he broke the hearts of final first-timers Coolderry as the men from the Glens of Antrim bridged a 29-year gap in glorious fashion.
Loughgiel never looked back after Shay Casey fired in their opening three-pointer early on, and by the halfway stage, Watson had helped himself to no less than three goals.
Coolderry did stage a brief fightback early in the second half, but the Shamrocks’ spirit and skill carried them through.
The Antrim men got in for a goal in the sixth minute. Eddie McCloskey’s mis-hit shot was picked up by Eddie McCloskey, and the corner forward rounded his marker to finish low to the net.
Coolderry had already eased into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead, with Damien Murray converting a couple of frees, but the goal helped settle the Shamrocks’ big-match nerves.
McCloskey and Brendan McCarry fired over points, and they could have had more but for some solid defending from Joe Brady.
They were forced onto the back foot for a spell, with Cathal Parlon and Brian Carroll bringing the Leinster champions level, but a second Loughgiel goal in the 18th minute gave Loughgiel a massive lift.
Ronan McCloskey and Neil McGarry stood firm at the back as Coolderry battled to turn the tide, but two goals in as many minutes from the brilliant Watson left them with a 10 points deficit
He started and finished an 18th minute move, netting from close range after Casey’s snapshot had been stopped but not held by ‘keeper Stephen Corcoran.
He blasted a 20 metre free to the net in the 28th minute, and two minutes later, Watson displayed skill and artistry in controlling McCloskey’s delivery and turning the ball into the net without breaking stride.
Loughgiel led by 4-6 to 0-9 at the interval, but an inspired Coolderry threw everythigbninto attack on the restart, and withing five minutes they had trimed a nine points deficit back to five.
Substitute Kevin Connolly brought a terrific save from DD Quinn, and along with Murray and Parlon, clipped over points to give them renewed hope.
But Loughgiel weathered the storm, thanks in no small part to some heroic defending from Paul Gillan, and hit back with scores from Watson and Barney McAuley.
When Watson landed a marvellous point from a tight angle, the lead had been stretched out to eight, and Coolderry were struggling to rediscover the verve and dash they had displayed in the opening stages of the half.
Murray pulled back a couple of points from expertly struck frees and Eoin Ryan steered over a neat score, but there was to be no stopping the Shamrocks, with Watson powering over an 80 metre free, before McCarry pointed after Stephen Corcoran had pulled off a top quality save from Casey.
Loughgiel scorers: L Watson 3-7 (1-5f), S Casey 1-0, B McCarry 0-3, B McAuley, E McCloskey, J Scullion 0-1 each.
Coolderry scorers: D Murray 0-8 (8f), B Carroll 0-3, E Ryan, C Parlon 0-2 each, K Brady, K Connolly 0-1 each.
Loughgiel: DD Quinn, P Gillan, N McGarry, R McCloskey, J Campbell, M Scullion, J Campbell, B McAuley, M McFaden, J Scullion, D Laverty, E McCloskey, B McCarry, L Wagtson, S Casey.
Subs: S Dobbin for McFadden, T McCloskey for Dobbin, D McCloskey for Casey
Coolderry: S Corcoran, B Kelly, T Corcoran, A Corcoran, K Brady, J Brady, B O’Meara, K Teehan, D King, B Carroll, B Teehan, C Parlon, E Ryan, M Corcoran, D Murray.
Subs: K Connolly for T Corcoran, B Larkin for Kelly
Referee: A Kelly (Galway).
