In the 90s the Bridge and Clarecastle were big rivals at underage with the clubs meeting across multiple Minor and U21 Finals - In 1994 the Bridge ended a 9 year famine winning the Minor A title for the first time since 1985. In the final of 1994 the Bridge defeated Clarecastle on a score of Sixmilebridge 3-09 Clarecastle 2-06. In 1995 the sides again met in the final with the Magpies winning out after a replay.
There are many links to the team of 94 and the team of today who contest the Minor A final in Cusack Park at 2PM against the Magpies ... - Wing back that day was Eoin Gavin and his son Stephan will line out in the Forwards for the Bridge today. - Also wing back on that team was Gregory Deegan who's son Luke has been playing in the middle of the park for our Minors this season. - From the team of 1995 Kevin Phelan played wing back and his son Zac will line out at midfield for the Bridge today while Paul Macnamara who was part of the squad has a son Jack lining out for the Bridge today also.
1994 Minor Final Report - Hayes Excels as 'Bridge Take Title
Sixmilebridge 3-09 Clarecastle 2-06
A poerweful performance from Centre Back Pat Hayes was the highlight of Sixmilebridge's win over Clarecastle in the final of the Minor A hurling Championship in Newmarket on Saturday evening.
This was a very entertaining game which produced some excellent passages of play. At the end of the Sixty minutes Sixmilebridge were deserving winners having pulled away in the final twenty minutes.
The teams were very evenly matched in the opening half and at half time the winners were 2 goals in front when the score was 2-05 to 1-02. Darragh O'Loughlin and Niall Gilligan had the Bridge goals while John Pyne had a goal for the magpies. The sides were again evenly matched in the second half before Gilligan scored his second goal and with good points form team captain Martin Conlon they went on to open a seven point gap.
Pat Hayes was outstanding for the winners and Clarecastle had now answer to his powerful display. Cathal Walsh and Gregory Deegan were others to do well in defence while team Captain Martin Conlon had a fine game in midfield while upfront Niall Gilligan was in great form finishing with 2-02 to his credit.
Sixmilebridge:
Mattie Mullins;
Cormac Heffernan, Declan Murphy, Cathal Walsh;
Eoin Gavin, Pat Hayes, Gregory Deegan;
John Reddan & Martin Conlon;
Barry Downes, Mark Donnellan, Noel Flannery;
John O'Meara, Niall Gilligan, Darragh O'Loughlin.
Clarecastle:
Joe O'Meara; Rory Concannon, Eoin Brennan, Ollie Plunkett; Brian McMahon, Eric Flynn, Joe Quinn; Derek Healy, Danny Scanlon; Brenwan Murphy, Eoin Vaughan, Alan Keogh; John Pyne, David Russell, Dermot Fitzgerald.
