Cratloe 1-10 St Breckan's 1-08
Colm Collins capped off an eventful 2023 with a return to the top of Clare football as his Cratloe side secured a first SFC title in nine years in Cusack Park.
Having led the Banner to a first Munster final in 11 years and subsequently stepping down as manager after a decade in charge, Collins placed his full concentration on Cratloe who despite an aging core, managed to defy the odds and knock out the last two champions en route to the decider.
In what was his 17th year in charge of the team for whom his three sons Sean, Podge and David all starred on Sunday, Collins perhaps produced his most significant victory of all.
"It's a really special one because we didn’t expect it," he said. "At the start of the year, it was as far a thing from our heads that you could possibly think of. We were more concerned with getting one win and staying senior so it’s a great tribute to the lads as they’ve really put their shoulders to the wheel.
"The massive thing for us was that when it came to the business end, we kept all our players injury-free."
That experience proved essential against a St Breckan’s side competing in their first senior final as the club hadn’t contested the decider in 27 years.
Injuries actually went against the North Clare side as their noted counter-attacking prowess was hampered by the loss of raiding wing-backs Jack Sheedy and Colm O’Brien either side of half-time.
It didn’t initially impact as first Jamie Stack and then Joe McGann kicked a brace of points to finally reel in Cratloe by the 33rd minute at 0-6 to 0-6.
However, St Breckan’s did ride their luck at the other end as Rowan Danaher had to scramble a Podge Collins shot off the line early in the second half.
The match would turn decisively in Cratloe’s favour in the 42nd minute when a leading free from Cathal McInerney was accentuated by a goal from the restart.
McInerney intercepting goalkeeper Mark O’Donnell’s kick-out to send the ball back over his head and into the top corner of the net at 1-8 to 0-7.
Cratloe’s attempts at a knock-out blow wouldn’t be as lucky though as Podge Collins and Diarmuid Ryan both dragged shots agonisingly wide of the far post albeit that the championship’s top scorer McInerney and Kerry native Mike Brennan did add points to create a six-point cushion by the 50th minute.
A shell-shocked St Breckan’s did admirably bounce back off the ropes, most significantly with a spectacular Joe McGann goal in the 55th minute that slashed the arrears to just two.
However, Cratloe’s superior winning know-how ensured that there would be no further damage as they held on to secure only their third ever Clare senior crown.
Cratloe: Padraigh Chaplin; Liam Markham, Kevin Harnett, David Collins; Riain McNamara, Mike Brennan (0-01), Enda Boyce; Diarmuid Ryan (0-01), Tommy Rooney (0-01); Conal O’Hanlon; Sean Collins, Shane Neville; Rian Considine (0-01), Cathal McInerney (1-06, 0-03f), Podge Collins
Subs: Conor Ryan for Rooney (HT), Jack McInerney Considine (54)
St Breckan’s: Mark O’Donnell; Conor Burke, Raphael Considine, Paddy Doherty; Colm O’Brien, Alan Sweeney, Jack Sheedy; Paudie Kelly (0-01, 0-01’45), Liam Tierney; Cian Burke, Shane Fitzpatrick, Maccon Byrne; Jamie Stack (0-05, 0-02f), Joe McGann (1-02), Rowan Danaher
Subs: Padraig O’Dwyer for Sheedy (20, inj), Denis O’Callaghan for O’Brien (38, inj), Tristan O’Callaghan for O’Donnell (49), Cathal Guerin for Fitzpatrick (55)
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)
