Bidding for their first All-Ireland club title, Clarecastle easily saw off the challenge of St Gabriel's before 700 spectators at Ruislip in London yesterday.
The only period when St Gabriel's looked like making a fight of it was in the opening seven minutes, when midfielders J J Shiel and Damian Quinlan were breaking even with Victor O'Loughlin and former London player, Ken Morrissey. London, in fact, went a point clear in the 6th minute when Quinlan scored a point. But that score proved to be the end of their challenge and once Alan Neville put the Clare team in front with a brilliantly-taken goal in the 10th minute, there was no looking back for them.
Clarecastle went into the break ahead by 2-9 to 1-4, and held complete sway in the second half, sending over 14 points as against three for the losers.
The real hero of the hour for Clarecastle was Tipperary man Kenny Ralph, who not only had a personal scoring tally of 1-8 to his credit, but had a hand in Neville's early goal. Centre half-back Anthony Daly, along with fellow All-Ireland medal winners, Tuohy, Ger O'Loughlin and Morrissey, were never called upon to perform any heroics, such was the paucity of the opposition; although on the evidence of this performance Clarecastle must be strong challengers for the All-Ireland title.
Team captain Martin Sheedy was always in command at full back with Oliver Plunkett, Neville, Robert Fitzgerald and Pat Healy also dominant in a side that had the game sewn up long before the end.
The winners have now assured themselves of a contented winter break ahead of an intriguing semifinal clash with Offaly champions Birr on February 15th.
St Gabriel's may well thank goalkeeper Jim Kirk for standing between his team and an even heavier defeat. Defenders Mark Waldron and Tony Lohan also tried hard to stem the tide; but it was obvious even at an early stage that the gulf between the teams was unsurmountable.
Although Referee Tommy McIntyre (Antrim) had occasion to send off Bill Hayes of St Gabriel's and Clarecastle's James Healy for separate relatively minor infringements, the game was generally incident free.
