"The only thing standing between Athenry and another AllIreland final is the road to Dublin." Dunloy folk wouldn't have been too impressed to read this claim, courtesy of Athenry's new sponsors, in yesterday's match programme. Yet it more or less proved true.
It may have taken about 15 minutes before the difference in class became apparent, but, once it did, the All-Ireland champions were simply phenomenal. And Dunloy could do nothing about it.
Eugene Cloonan, striking a majestic 1-11, was killing them softly. David Donoghue and Cathal Moran alongside him were burning similar holes so that the full forward line ended up with 3-14 between them. Joe Rabbitte was the usual source, while Brendan Keogh and Brian Hanley did all that they could have done at midfield.
But the productivity and efficiency of the entire outfit was equally satisfying for manager Pat Nally. Dunloy started at flat-out pace and, although no one expected that they could sustain it, Athenry did have to battle hard for the opening quarter-hour.
"Well, yeah, you have to be happy with that," said Nally. "The first half may have been a little closer than the score reflected because Dunloy were extremely well up for it. But I think our lads steadied themselves into the game and showed a lot of maturity out there.
"Our more senior players were particularly good in settling the game down and where you have guys like Eugene Cloonan and David Donohue in the full forward line, what do you expect? We were well on top after that and the scoreline reflected that in the end."
Dunloy actually held a narrow advantage in the opening moments. After Gregory O'Kane's opening free, they stayed a point or two in front until Rabbitte tied it up at 0-4 apiece. Cloonan edged Athenry in front and, although Alistair Elliott again evened the score at 0-6 after 20 minutes, it would be a similar period before they would score again.
The first goal that always threatened came on the half-hour. Cloonan's long-range free was blocked down by Shane Elliott, but Donoghue was on hand to tap the loose ball into the net - and give Athenry a cushion of 1-11 to 0-6 at the break.
Just 30 seconds after the restart, Cathal Moran charged on the goal to add Athenry's second. Pat Higgins, having a monumental game at centre forward, kept the points coming and that pushed Athenry into a 13-point lead.
By now, Dunloy needed a comeback to rival the Elvis tour of '68. Instead, the best they could manage was a goal from Seamus McMullan and that only prompted a further flow of Athenry scoring. Cloonan and Donoghue again the providers.
Still, the Dunloy heads never dropped. Conor Cunning gave their enthusiastic support something more to cheer about with one of the game's best points from midfield, but, almost immediately afterwards, Cloonan got the goal he deserved.
Even with the foot off the pedal and a number of substitutions, Athenry still scored at will. Nally had spoken of all their hard work after last year's successful campaign, but it seems they've done just as much this time out.
"You can bet your life we have. We were back on our famous hill training in early January and got all the hard work out of the way. We can enjoy our hurling after that and now we're really looking forward to the final.
The only thing left to worry about after this display was that Nally doesn't yet know who his side will meet in the final. "Well there were two great teams left in it. I know a lot about Sixmilebridge, but I don't know as much about Graigue-Ballycallan, but you only have to look at the success of Kilkenny to know that they will be fired up."
ST MARY'S, ATHENRY: M Crimmins; E Keogh, G Keane, J Feeney; B Higgins, B Feeney, P Hardiman; B Keogh (0-1), B Hanley (0-1); J Rabbitte (0-1), P Higgins (0-2, one sideline), D Moran; C Moran (1-1), E Cloonan (1-11, six frees), D Donoghue (1-2). Subs: S Donoghue for D Moran (45 mins), D Burns (0-1) for C Moran (52), D Cloonan for Feeney (53).
DUNLOY CUCHULLAIN'S: S Elliott; D McMullan, S Mullan, S McIlhatton; P McMullan, G O'Kane, M Molloy; C Cunning (0-2), C McGuckian (0-1); G O'Kane (0-3, two frees), S McMullan (1-0), F McMullan; L Richmond (0-1), P Richmond, A Elliott (0-2). Subs: N Elliott (0-1, a 65) for F McMullan (38 mins), C McGrath for L Richmond (45), M Curry for McIlhatton (50), J Elliott for S McMullan (54).
Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).
