A final of joy and despair as Clare complete the legend

As a final it was bedlam. 111 shots, 66 scores across 90 minutes of inescapable sporting drama in front of a sellout stadium. It covered the entire spectrum of sight and sound. There were blasts of awe at the quality of play, outrage at late referee decisions, alarm at the announcement of extra-time amongst the sizeable cohort who had already headed for the exit and a final piercing combination of ecstasy and agony.

From dawn on, a blaze of golden colour washed over the capital. The fear of toll bridge backlogs and delayed delirium saw supporters flood to Drumcondra splendidly early. Much of the Clare contingent stole through Galway to avoid their Munster rivals on route. Cork landed even earlier yet still found an almighty logjam. Inbound traffic slow at the mouth of the Hogan Stand tunnel as a litany of photographers, stewards and groundskeepers queue for an audience with Dr. Con.

Then came time to bring the noise. Rousing. Booming. Deserving. It was the last name of the jubilee team list that ignited the bleachers. “Jimmy Barry- YEAAHHHH!” Literal snare drums played him off. A fitting way to kick off one of Irish sport’s fabled days. Celebrate a hero. Make more.

What a whirl. Come extra-time, Croke Park was levitating while the main combatants were collapsing with cramp all over the field. It is no wonder that they were spent. Cork thundered into it from the throw-in. Immediately from the throw-in.

Midfielders Tim O’Mahony and Darragh Fitzgibbon typically start off with a backup stick. Swing hard, collect the good hurley from the carrier a minute later. O’Mahony didn’t have time to switch. They had to go hard immediately. Seamus Harnedy set up him and he delivered. Boom.

No let-up. Nine shots. 1-8 scored. A collective virtuoso. So many impressive auditions for future sporting idols.

Until Shane O’Donnell shouted stop. One final in his honour isn’t enough. Make it two. Cork were seven up when his genius finally gave cause to enrapture the Clare crowd. He created one goal for Peter Duggan. Robert Downey’s well-timed flick denied it. So, he created another for Aidan McCarthy, shipping three bruising tackles in the process.

Fragments of heroism littered this All-Ireland decider. Patrick Horgan’s fight endured until the very end. What is a tougher gut check than a pressure free to equalise the contest? How about two. He did it twice, from inside his own half and from Joe Canning’s 2012 pocket.

Each bench brought dark and light in equal measure. Aron Shanagher conceded two late frees and was lucky not to be sent off. Shane Kingston struggled to impact the game in normal time and came close to deciding it in the additional period with two sweet scores. Ryan Taylor came in and chased what looked like a lost cause with fellow sub Ethan Twomey streaking away in front of the Cusack Stand. Somehow, he caught him and forced a sideline. Five minutes later, he produced a white flag that had Clare three up as the clock ticked down.

True genius came to the fore in the final three minutes. Kelly, who earlier etched his name into the Hall of Fame for extraordinary final goals, encapsulated Clare’s drive and swung the game. Indefatigable work-rate paved the way as he flicked away Twomey’s ball.

Kelly then flicked Mark Coleman’s inbound handpass away from Mark Coleman. He flicked his flick around Luke Meade. A feint and a final punch brought his total to 1-4 and pushed Clare clear. Fitting.

Everybody wants to be a hero. Every element of the match is infused with that ambition. David Fitzgerald hurled a mountain of ball. He did so much. At times it was too much. Three points, six wides, two dropped short, one fluffed goal chance. Make sense of that.

In reality, it is simple. There is always a cost. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. Enormous gain requires colossal pain. The fulfilment of a dream leaves devastation in its wake. Fairytales are far from victimless. There is always collateral damage.

It took Declan Dalton’s smashed hurley, leathered off the concrete wall at the bottom of the steps upon his withdrawal. It took referee Johnny Murphy’s split head, cut on the faceguard of Twomey. It took Séamus Harnedy’s hamstring that forced his departure and Conor Cleary’s damaged shoulder, held in a protective sling post-match. 

It took Lohan to hell, to the point where he broached the sideline in a furious remonstration. It took him to eventual rapture, to a place where Kelly could bellow the Banner creed: “Hurling is our religion. And Lohan is our God!” It took all from Lohan’s loyal devotees as well. Ken Ralph is the only selector who has been by his side for five years. Analyst Eamon Myers has been a committed aid going back to the UL days. At the turnaround, Clare managed to fix the glaring weakness that was their long puckout and turn it into a strength.

It took three icons through a world of pain. Kelly, Conlon and O’Donnell started together for the 2013 triumph. Since then, all three have beaten their bodies harrowingly in search of another spell at the summit. And on the other side it left casualties who were as worthy of liberation.

All-Ireland finals are parasites. To survive, they demand a certain sacrifice. For Clare to become champions, Sunday asked for everything. That is what it got.