Something decisive clicked in the heart of champions St Joseph's Doora-Barefield shortly into the second half of Saturday's replay at Parnell Park. After more than an hour and a half of play, they still couldn't shake off the men of Ruairi Og, Cushendall and it was time to start searching a little deeper.
So, in a fleeting quarter-hour spell that saw them fire six unanswered points, St Joseph's finally smothered their stubborn opposition to earn the chance of defending their All-Ireland title against Athenry on St Patrick's Day.
Like their initial meeting six days before, the sides were tied at the break, this time at 1-5 apiece, and only after digging deep into their reserves were St Joseph's allowed safely through.
"We knew the answer for this game was to show more hunger, though we'll still have to improve if we're going to beat Athenry," offered St Joseph's trainer Lois Mulqueen.
For most of the first half points were exchanged like clockwork before St Joseph's were handed a soft goal on 19 minutes. Joe Considine sent a floating ball in from the sideline and, when Charlie McAllister and Aidan McAteer fumbled their blocking, Andrew Whelan swept it to the net.
But that wasn't going to fumble Cushendall's spirit. Minutes later Kevin Elliott claimed the more impressive goal by shooting straight into the top corner before Christy O'Connor had time to look. There was further concern among the Clare support when Conor McCambridge's third free put Cushendall back in front moments into the second half, but that was the last time they would lead.
With Hassett now an increasing threat and McMahon getting a couple of frees on target, St Joseph's gradually edged ahead and midway through the half were 1-11 to 1-6 in front. A couple more scores from Delargy and Conor McCambridge ensured that Cushendall heads never dropped, but with minutes left, and now down to 14 men when Ruairi McNaughton saw red for his second booking after a tackle on Patsy Fahy, the battle was lost.
"We didn't hurl as well as we needed to in the second half, and felt the game was going away from us then," explained the Cushendall coach Alex Emerson. "Still, this team never knows when to say die."
St Joseph's, Doora-Barefield: C O'Connor; G Hoey, D Cahill, K Kennedy; D Hoey, S McMahon (0-2, both frees), D O'Driscoll; O Baker (0-1, a sideline cut), J Considine; J O'Connor (0-2, both frees), F O'Sullivan, L Hassett (0-6); G Baker, C O'Neill (0-1), A Whelan (1-0). Subs: C Mullen (0-1) for O'Sullivan (35 mins), N Brodie for Considine (48 mins), P Fahy (0-1) for O'Neill (54 mins).
Ruairi Og, Cushendall: C McNaughton; C McAllister, A McAteer, C McCambridge; Ruairi McNaughton, Ryan McNaughton, Michael McCambridge; K Elliott (1-0), D McKillop; C McCambridge (0-4, all frees), Mark McCambridge (0-2), F McAllister, A Delargy (0-2), T McNaughton, J Carson. Subs: K McKeegan for McAteer (half-time), E McNaughton for McKeegan and D McNaughton for F McAllister (both 57 mins).
Referee: A Mac Suibhne (Dublin).
