Wolfe Tones 2-13 Sixmilebridge 0-18

20 years on and history repeated itself today in Cusack Park when just like in 1996 Wolfe Tones dethroned county champions and neighbours Sixmilebridge in the Clare Senior hurling championship.

The sides were level on five separate occasions in the game, all of which were in the opening half. The Bridge were nervous looking in the first half and their first touch was poor as Wolfe Tones capitalised on a number of mistakes to keep the score board ticking over. Aaron Shanagher was deadly from placed balls and got the first goal of the game on the thirtieth minute when Aaron Cunnigham’s shot was stopped by Derek Fahy only for the on rushing Shangher to raise the green flag.

Wolfe Tones led by the minimum at half time and increased their lead on 38 minutes when Aaron Cunningham put a rocket past Fahy into the top corner of the net - Alan Mulready and Jamie Shanahan added points to keep the Bridge in touch.

A Seadna Morey effort from the sideline looked to be over the bar before the linesman reversed the umpires decision to leave it 2-09 0-13 with 15 minutes remaining.

In the dying minutes of the game Aaron Cunningham pointed from his knees to put the Tones 2 up before the Bridge were awarded a 21 metre free which Gilly took but the Shannon defence stood their ground and cleared.

A disappointing exit for the Bridge more so because hopes were high this year and the fact the performance on the day did not reflect the huge effort put in all year by the team and management. The team will contest the semi final of the Clare cup in the coming weeks which at this moment in time may be poor consolation but at the same time it is a chance to make some amends for todays disappointment.

Wolfe Tones: Pa Freeman; Rory Hayes, Jamie Roughan, Dermot O’Rourke; Brian O’Connell, Gary O’Connell, Barry Loughnane; Ben O’Gorman (0-03 1f), Daithí O’Connell, Jack Cunningham; Sean Costelloe, John Guilfoyle, Aron Shanagher (1-08 7f); Aaron Cunningham (1-02), Kevin McCafferty. Subs: Andrew Shanagher for Costelloe (41), Dean Devanney for Guilfoyle (50), Kevin Justice for Roughan (53) (Inj), Declan O’Rourke for McCafferty (55).

Sixmilebridge: Derek Fahy; Noel Purcell, Aidan Quilligan, Tadhg Keogh; Paidi Fitzpatrick, Caimin Morey, John Fennessy; Christy Griffin, Seadna Morey (0-01); Alan Mulready (0-04), Jamie Shanahan (0-02 1f), Shane Golden (0-01); Cathal Malone, Niall Gilligan (0-08 4f 1’65), Danny Morey (0-01). Subs: Alex Morey (0-01) for Griffin (45), Conor Deasy for D Morey (45), Gavin Whyte for Malone (53), Brian Carey for Golden (61).

Referee: Rory Hickey (Éire Óg).