THOSE theories about lethargy eventually having to creep into St Joseph's Doora-Barefield and their Clare stalwarts certainly didn't win any adherents at Semple Stadium yesterday when the All-Ireland champions dismissed a somewhat under-strength Toomevara in typical suffocating fashion.
Clare and Tipperary provided some of the most competitive hurling throughout the summer months and, in front of a 7,400 attendance in Thurles, this repeat of last year's provincial final was no less entertaining.
Few men could have played more hurling this year than the Doora-Barefield trio of Jamesie O'Connor, Ollie Baker and Sean McMahon. Together they contributed more than half the total here - giving further proof of their central role to the Clare outfit.
O'Connor, in particular, was on top form once he'd warmed up the wrists in the second half, and overall this Doora-Barefield performance can hardly be faulted - though they were guilty of losing Lorcan Hassett 10 minutes before the end to a red card.
The superb playing surface ensured a lively game. Toomevara's tactics seemed simple enough: they hit the ground running and led the pace in the hope that Doora-Barefield would tire quicker in the chase. For the first 15 minutes at least that went according to plan, as John O'Brien, Pat King and Paddy O'Brien orchestrated as smooth a start as they could have wished for. With Tomas Dunne doing everything expected of him at full forward, they were 0-4 in front after just seven minutes. That theory about the Clare challenge going stale gained a little more strength, as it was 15 minutes before McMahon fired over a free for Doora-Barefield's opening score.
O'Connor also had to put a few off target before he finally sent the ball between the posts on 18 minutes.
Toomevara certainly weren't giving much away, and they kept the tempo high and hard, which resulted in Dunne and Greg Baker having their names taken. As Brian Duff and O'Connor exchanged a couple more points, the champions gradually increased their influence on the game and Toomevara's hopes of an upset disappeared.
Daragh O'Driscoll took on a leading role around the Doora-Barefield defence and that greatly lessened the effect of Dunne and John O'Brien. David Hoey then brought Doora-Barefield to within two, 0-7 to 0-5, with five minutes left in the first half. That was the last time Toomevara had the advantage.
A minute later Ciaran O'Neill sent out a highly-imaginative ball to O'Driscoll some 25 yards from goal. He swept past his man, outsmarted Justin Cottrell in front of the posts, and shot the ball straight into the net. To complete a superb five-minute spell for Doora-Barefield, McMahon added his second free and suddenly they were comfortably in front, 1-6 to 0-7, just in time for the interval. It became a slightly more predictable encounter after that. Noel Brodie and Andrew Whelan deepened the Doora-Barefield attack, and Greg Baker took the first point of the half. On 36 minutes a scramble developed in front of the Toomevara goalmouth and, after a succession of blocks and half blocks, Whelan eventually found the opening to fire home Doora-Barefield's second goal.
Unfortunately for the enthusiastic support down from Toomevara, that more or less ended the game as a two-way affair. O'Connor picked off his best point so far close to the right sideline, and now the 2-8 to 07 lead appeared unsurmountable.
McMahon and Baker had the midfield area completely sealed up while Toomevara depended more and more on the fortunes of their free-taking. Dunne took a chance on goal with one of them on 41 minutes, which was well blocked, and moments later pointed, to end their 12-minute scoring drought. Michael O'Meara then made an appearance for Toomevara and within minutes might well have claimed a crucial goal. Played through with only Christy O'Connor to beat, his handling let him down and the chance spilled wide. Toomevara continued to move men around but appeared increasingly disorganised, in sharp contrast to their first-half performance. With 10 minutes remaining, Doora-Barefield were in complete control and it was hard to find an explanation for Hassett's aggressive push on Brendan Dunne. It yielded an instant red card, although the sending off came a little too late to help Toomevara build up any sort of comeback.
Terry Dunne and Tony Delaney added a couple of late points for Toomevara, but Doora-Barefield had visibly eased off the gas even though they were a man short. Another Munster final to look forward too and still no sign of pulling over for refreshment.
ST JOSEPH'S DOORA-BAREFIELD: C O'Connor; G Hoey, D Cahill, K Kennedy; D Hoey (0-1), S McMahon (0-4, all frees), D O'Driscoll (1-0); O Baker, J Considine; J O'Connor (0-5, one free), N Brodie, L Hassett; G Baker (0-1), C O'Neill, A Whelan (1-0).
TOOMEVARA: J Cottrell; G Frend, R Brislane, B Dunne; E Brisbane, T Delaney (0-1), P Hackett; T Dunne (0-1), B Duff (0-1); P O'Brien (0-1), P King (0-2), M Bevans; P McGrath, T Dunne (0-2, both frees), J O'Brien (0-3). Subs: K Dunne (0- 1) for Bevans (13 mins); M O'Meara for Duff (41 mins).
Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick).
