Sport

Cloonan delivers yet again

Athenry, the reigning All-Ireland club champions, captured their third successive Galway title at Ballinasloe yesterday with …

Mon Oct 30 2000 - 00:00

Athenry, the reigning All-Ireland club champions, captured their third successive Galway title at Ballinasloe yesterday with a four-point win over great rivals Sarsfields. The two sides have had a monopoly on the title since 1992 and yesterday's game saw the All-Ireland champions prove their mettle with a tremendous performance.

However, one man stood out. Full forward Eugene Cloonan accounted for 2-10 of his side's total and it came as absolutely no surprise that he was named as the man of the match.

Cloonan was wide with a 90-metre free in the opening minute, but from then on he was unerring in his accuracy. In the 13th minute, he scored the first goal when he tapped David Donohoe's shot to the net over the head of Brendan Cooney. Five minutes later a Brendan Keogh delivery found the deadly marksman on the edge of the square and he bagged Athenry's second goal. He scored another five points before the interval to leave the winners in front by 2-7 to 1-4.

Signs of a fightback by Sarsfields were evident after the resumption and in the third minute Cathal Murray scored his second goal after soloing through a maze of Athenry defenders. In the 18th minute of the half, Joe Cooney saw Michael Cummins drop his 15-metre sideline puck into the net for Sarsfields third goal. Then there was only a point between the sides.

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However, a stronger and fitter Athenry team withstood the challenge in the final quarter as the years began to tell on a Sarsfields outfit that was playing 11 of the team that won All-Irelands in 1992 and 1993.

ATHENRY: M Crimmins; E Keogh, G Keane, J Feeney; B Higgins, B Feeney, P Hardiman; B Keogh, B Hanley; J Rabbitte, P Higgins (0-1), B Moran (0-1); C Moran, E Cloonan (2-10), D Donohue (0-2). Subs: S Donohue for C Moran, D Higgins for D Moran.

SARSFIELDS: D Kenny; P Kelly, B Cooney, D Keane; P Forde, M Warde, E Earls; N Morrissey, J Cooney (1-1); M McGrath (0-1), A Donohue (0-3), R Quinn; C Murray (2-1), J McGrath (0-1), P Kelly. Subs: P McMahon for Quinn A McMahon for Morrissey.

Referee: M Carroll (Ballymoe).