Clough-Ballacolla 2-22 Rathdowney-Errill 0-22
The man who got his nickname from an uncle simply because he loved picking stuff out of refuse bins certainly picked Clough-Ballacolla pockets at O’Moore Park on Sunday when his 1-14 led to his side’s 12th title.
Picky and his fellow full-forward Stephen Bergin kicking the first in the opening stanza, got the goals which ultimately decided the game as Maher’s second-half green flag put an end to the game as a contest.
Not for the first time Picky was the stand-out hurler on view and his second half contribution of 1-11 was an onslaught too much to bear for the gallant losers.
Rathdowney-Errill were in their first final for five years and with wind advantage and the accuracy of Tadhg Dowling and Paddy McCane hitting seven points between them, and with Ross King backing them up on frees, it meant they were four points to the good, 0-15 to 1-8 at the break.
On the resumption, once Maher and Liam O'Connell traded scores, we sat back and were enthralled by the Picky show for the rest of the moiety.
His master free-taking reduced the gap to a point seven minutes in and when he drilled home his goal, it transformed the complexion of the game as well as giving his side the lead.
Rathdowney-Errill’s fouling was to prove costly as Maher continued to punish their indiscretions and give his sides increased momentum along the way.
Clough-Ballacolla: C Dunne; D Conway, D Maher, C Hogan; J Corby (0-1), L Cleere (0-3), J Walshe; A Corby (0-1), W Dunphy; M Hennessy (0-1), K Mulhall, S Corby; R Phelan (0-1), S Maher (1-14, 0-10), S Bergin (1-1) Subs: C Dunne for S Corby (ht), P Brennan for Mulhall (32-34, temporary), P Brennan for Hennessy (58), J Pearson for Mulhall (62)
Rathdowney-Errill: D Madden; D Carroll, J Fitzpatrick, S Madden; J Purcell, J Ryan, L O’Connell (0-2f); P Purcell (0-3, 0-1f), P Rafter; S Pearson, E Killeen (0-1), T Dowling (0-4); R King (0-6,f), B McGinley (0-2), P McCane (0-4) Subs: T Fitzpatrick for P Purcell (32-36, temp), T Fitzpatrick for Rafter (47), E Bourke for McGinley (51).
Ref: P Dunne (Colt).
