| GLORY BOYS!  By
Graham Clifford
London’s Robert Emmetts became the first overseas club side in the
history of the GAA to win an All-Ireland final on Sunday and boy did they
do it in style!
The side managed by Corkman Mick O’Dea outplayed Galway’s Killimordaly
at Croke Park to lift the Intermediate Club Hurling Championship and send
out a clear message that teams from this side of the Irish Sea can mix it
with the best.
Amazingly Emmetts kept Killimordaly scoreless from play for the entire
duration of the game a superb achievement considering the potent attacking
force the Connacht champions possess.
Afterwards a delighted O’Dea praised his team’s discipline in
defence and accuracy in attack. He said: “I told the lads before the
game and at half-time that keeping them scoreless was one of the keys to
victory and I’m over the moon that we did that. To win All-Irelands
you need to have that killer instinct and the Emmetts players had that in
abundance out there.”
Corkman John Quinlan was a constant thorn in Killimordaly’s side from
start to finish picking up eight points while also setting up Jim Ryan for
the only goal of the game after 20 minutes.
Emmetts played with a swagger while also fighting for every ball like their
lives depended on it.
It was the second time in three years that O’Dea had led a London
side to All-Ireland glory. In 2005 London won the Nicky Rackard Cup with
seven of that side lining-out for Emmetts on Sunday.
Fergus McMahon captained London three years ago and on Sunday he made the
same journey up the steps to pick up the Intermediate Cup. A delighted McMahon
said afterwards: “We knew we had to win the hard balls out there today
and we did that. This is a huge result for us and London hurling. It’s
been two years of hard work to get here and we’re ecstatic.”
Emmetts held a homecoming reception last Monday night at the Crown Moran
Hotel, Cricklewood cradling the latest piece of silverware to cross the
Irish Sea.
n Full report and reaction see sport.
|
