Liam Watson hit 3-7 as Loughgiel stunned Coolderry in the All-Ireland Club Hurling Final at Croke Park.
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Loughgiel celebrate their famous All Ireland victory.
Ten years ago today Loughgeil Shamrocks won their second All Ireland title with Liam Watson leading the line setting a a scoring record for an All Ireland which might never be broken
Loughgiel 4-13 Coolderry 0-17
A man of the match display by Liam Watson steered Loughgiel Shamrocks to victory over Offaly and Leinster champions Coolderry in the 2012 All Ireland Club final at Croke Park. Watson, who had scored 0-16 in the Shamrocks semi-final win over Munster champions Na Piarsaig, gave a master class of scoring as he ran the Coolderry defence ragged.
Shay Casey got Loughgiel off to a great start when he kicked tha ball to the net for an early goal but Coolderry hit back with three points to drew level. However, Watson’s first goal put Loughgiel four up and he then struck two goals in a minute before half-time.
Jumping for joy! Man of the match Liam Watson punches the air after sending a twenty-metre free fizzing into the Coolderry net for the second goal of his first-half hat-trick.
He gambled as he struck a 20-metre free to the net for his second goal before another glorious finish for his third and while Coolderry threatened after the break, Loughgiel regained control.
Loughgiel’s victory amid high emotion ended a 29-year wait for their second All-Ireland title after their 1983 success .
And it was a thoroughly deserved victory for the Shamrocks who are the only Ulster club to have lifted the title.
Watson’s scoring exploits will rightly be lauded but it was a tremendous team display by PJ O’Mullan’s side.
The sense that it was going to be Loughgiel’s day came when Watson rocketed in his second goal from the 20-metre free two minutes before the break.
His manager surely would have wanted the forward to take his point but the enigmatic Watson had other ideas as he lashed an unstoppable strike past the five men on the goal-line and into the roof of the net.
Two minutes later, Watson beautifully controlled a long ball from the outstanding Eddie McCloskey and he only needed two more touches on the stick before sliding the ball under keeper Stephen Corcoran.
Left-half-forward Eddie McCloksey, who was magnificent in his team’s Croke Park win, gets away from Coolderry captain Brendan O’Meara and Brian Carroll to set up another Loughgiel attack.
The goal gave the Ulster champions an astonishing 4-6 to 0-8 lead although Damian Murray did add a further Coolderry point in first-half injury-time.
Casey kicked Loughgiel’s opening goal to put his side 1-1 to 0-2 ahead after good work by Joey Scullion.
Efforts from play from Eddie McCloskey and Brendan McCarry then had Loughgiel 1-3 to 0-3 ahead only for Coolderry to draw level, helped by two Brian Carroll scores.
But Loughgiel were four to the good by the 20th minute as Watson slammed to the net from close range after keeper Corcoran had saved a point-blank Casey shot.
Coolderry were still within striking distance at 2-6 to 0-8 as half-time approached but then came the crucial period of the match as Watson completed his hat-trick of goals.
After going in nine points ahead at the break, Loughgiel’s made a nervous start to the second half as Coolderry hit four unanswered points, with sub Kevin Connolly getting two of the scores.
Cup of joy! Team captain Johnny Campbell and vice-captain DD Quinn lift the Tommy Moore Cup after their team’s fantastic win over Offaly and Leinster champions Coolderry at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day. It is the club’s second All Ireland title, the last coming twenty-nine years ago in 1983 when the Shamrocks beat another Offaly team (St Rynagh’S) in the final replay at Casement Park.
But Watson pointed a crucial free, won by himself in the 37th minute and a reply from Murray was then followed by three more unanswered Loughgiel points, with Barney McAuley’s long-range effort adding to two more Watson scores.
Coolderry reduced Loughgiel’s lead to six by the 53rd minute but the contest was effectively over within a minute as Watson’s 70-metre free was followed by McCarry’s second score of the day.
With an unassailable lead, Loughgiel were able to enjoy something of a lap of honour in the closing minutes with McCarry tagging on a closing point.
Tears of joy! Loughgiel corner back Paul ‘Ding’ Gillan greets his wife Leisa and daughter Aoibheann after the Shamrocks victory. Sister in law Finvola McCann joins in the celebrations.
LOUGHGIEL: D Quinn; P Gillan, N McGarry, R McCloskey; J Campbell, M Scullion, J Campbell; B McAuley (0-1) , M McFadden; J Scullion (0-1) , D Laverty, E McCloskey (0-1) ; B McCarry (0-3) , L Watson (3-7, 1-5 frees) , S Casey (1-0) . Subs : S Dobbin for McFadden (half-time), T McCloskey for Dobbin (57 mins), D McCloskey for Casey (61 mins).
COOLDERRY: S Corcoran; B Kelly, T Corcoran, A Corcoran; B O’Meara, J Brady, D King; K Brady (0-1) , K Teehan; B Carroll (0-3), B Teehan, M Corcoran; E Ryan (0-2) , C Parlon (0-2) , D Murray (0-8, frees) .
Subs: K Connolly (0-1) for T Corcoran (half-time), M Bergin for K Teehan (51 mins), B Larkin for Kelly (57 mins).
The perfrect start! Loughgiel corner-forward Shay Casey celebrates after scoring his team’s opening goal in the sixth minute of Saturday’s AIB All Ireland Club final win over Coolderry at Croke Park.Number 2! Liam Watson (10) is congratulated by team-mate Benny McCarry after scoring his team’s second goal. Thats the hat-trick! Liam Watson is again greeted by Benny McCarry after steering the ball past Coolderry goalkeepr Stephen Corcoran for his third goal, and his team’s fourth of a sensational first-half. Coolderry corner-back Alan Corcoran breaks his hurley as he attempts to block down Loughgiel corner-forward Benny McCarry, but is was all to no avail as McCarry’s second-half shot still flew over the Coolderry crossbar. We did it! Loughgiel’s Barney McAuley, Declan Laverty and Tony McCloskey celebrate their team’s historic victory. Tears of joy! Loughgiel corner back Paul ‘Ding’ Gillan greets his wife Leisa and daughter Aoibheann after the Shamrocks victory. Sister in law Finvola McCann joins in the celebrations. We did it! Team manager PJ O’Mullan raises his hands in celebration after his team’s magnificent win over Coolderry in the AIB All Ireland Senior Club Hurling final at Croke Park. Cup of joy! Team captain Johnny Campbell and vice-captain DD Quinn lift the Tommy Moore Cup after their team’s fantastic win over Offaly and Leinster champions Coolderry at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day. It is the club’s second All Ireland title, the last coming twenty-nine years ago in 1983 when the Shamrocks beat another Offaly team (St Rynagh’S) in the final replay at Casement Park. Oh brother! It was a day to remember for the McCloskey family as four brothers Ronan, Tony, Eddie and Dan all saw action in Loughgiel’s victory. Ronan and Eddie were major players from the star while Tony and Dan came on as second-half substitutes. Redemption! Loughgiel coach Jim Nelson finally got his big day in Croke Park when the Shamrocks collected the All Ireland Club title. In 1989 Jim was the manager of the Antrim team who played Tipperary in the All Ireland Senior final, but that ended in disappointment. On Saturday last he got his just rewards as the team he coached so brilliantly put on a display to make any coach proud.Man of the match Liam Watson kisses the Tommy Moore Cup after his team’s win over Coolderry in the St Patrick’s Day final in Croke Park. CHAMPIONS! Loughgiel Shamrocks celebrate their win over Offaly and Leinster champions Coolderry in the AIB All Ireland Senior Club Hurling final at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.The O’Connell family (and friends) outside Croke Park. Included are Christina O’Connell, Katrina McCarry, Dominic O’Connell, Bernie O’Connell, Paddy O’Connell, Gemma O’Connell, Eamon Laverty and Denis McCarry. Captain of the Loughgiel 1983 winning team Niall Patterson was at Croke Park with his daughters Rhiannon and Sharelle. Lucky Leprechauns! Loughgiel fans Ronan McCollum and Conor McCormick dressed for the big day in Croke Park. Liam Watson celebrates after firing the ball to the Coolderry net for the second of his two goals.Substitute Tony McCloskey sets off on a solo run late in the game.The McCloskey brothers Ronan and Tony celebrate at the end.Benny McCarry, who scored three points in his team’s win, is lifted shoulder high by Damian Laverty at the end.Team captain Johnny Campbell and vice-captain DD Quinn lift the Tommy Moore Cup.Team captain Johnny Campbell and his younger brother James with the cup.Loughgiel fans greets the players as they return to their dressing room with the All Ireland trophy.Liam Waton with his two cousins Damian Laverty (left) and Declan Laverty right after the game.
