Former Galway star Daragh Coen has never scored a more important point in his long career. It was a simple task for the prolific midfield scorer, a tap-over free from the "21" for the winner two minutes into injury time.
The score earned Clarinbridge an historic victory over disenchanted defending champions Athenry in a dramatic ending to the Galway senior hurling championship final at Ballinasloe yesterday.
Before any consideration is given to the doubts expressed in the Athenry dressing-room afterwards concerning the legality of the free from which Coen scored the winner, it must be stressed that Clarinbridge are truly worthy champions for the first time in the long history of the club.
Athenry team manager Pat Nally insisted that the awarded free was the result "of a dive". He added: "You can quote me on that, for I have no reason to think otherwise."
Clarinbridge attack leader Mark Kerins collected the original tentative delivery by midfielder Brian Carr at the death, but ended up on the ground in possession.
Coen did the rest by scoring the point that is assured of a prominent place in the folklore of Galway championship hurling, not least in the records of the Clarinbridge club.
Athenry started slowly, found themselves trailing by four points after seven minutes, and were six down after 21 minutes. That early showing by the sprightly challengers put it up to the champions, who struggled badly throughout the first half.
Nally said that his team didn't play for the first 20 minutes. However, it would be closer to the truth to say that the drive and initiative of the Clarinbridge side as a unit did not allow Athenry any scope to acquire the sort of grip on the game that they had anticipated.
Nally agreed that his team lacked sharpness. They had been on the road a long time, going for a fourth successive county title, having won the All-Ireland title for the past two seasons. The last time, in fact, that Athenry were beaten in a championship match was in 1999 at the All-Ireland semi-final stage by Doora Barefield.
Michael Spellman and Liam Madden in the Clarinbridge defence, and not least goalkeeper Liam O'Donoghue, set Joe Rabitte, Eugene Cloonan and colleagues in the Athenry attack a formidable task.
Darragh Coen was always on hand to do the needful with the placed ball following panic fouling in the Athenry rearguard, and the Kerins brothers Mark and Alan were repeatedly exposing weaknesses in the holders' cover.
Yet, Athenry were an improved side in the second half, and they drew level thanks to two cracking goals by Donal Moran and Rabitte.
Whenever Athenry threatened to take that elusive lead, Clarinbridge responded instantly with another inspiring point to the delight of their ecstatic supporters in the 10,000 crowd. Some of those points were the result of loose marking.
Clarinbridge also seemed to have the support of the neutrals judging by the cheers that followed Eugene Cloonan's missed opportunities from placed balls. Still, he was Athenry's top scorer with eight points.
Athenry trailed by 10 points to five at half-time, with eight wides against four for the challengers.
CLARINBRIDGE: L O'Donoghue; M Spellman, A Quinn, G Spellman; J Cannon, M Donoghue, L Madden; D Coen (0-8, 6 frees), B Carr; P Coen (0-1), M Keerins (0-4), A Kerins (0-2); C Coen (0-1), D Forde, D Donoghue (0-2).
ATHENRY: M Crimmins; E Keogh, D Cloonan, J Feeney; B Higgins, B Feeney, P Hardiman; MJ Quinn, B Hanley; J Rabbitte (1-1), P Higgins, S Donoghue (0-1); D Moran (1-0), E Cloonan (0-8, 6 frees), D Donoghue (0-1). Subs: C Moran for Hanley (31 mins), G Keane for Quinn (60 mins).
Referee: T Holian (Skehana).
