Ballyea won the Clare Senior Hurling Championship for the first time in their eighty two year history when they overcame the challenge of Clonlara on the second time of asking in the replayed final.
Robbie Hogan was moments away from becoming the first man to lead Ballyea to glory in the Clare SHC, for now he’ll have to wait just a bit longer to complete the feat.
Clonlara and Ballyea will have to do it all again as a last gasp point from Cathal Tots O’Connell means there will be a replay in both the Clare SHC and SFC finals in the same year for the first time since 1982.
Robbie Hogan nearly stepped away from the Ballyea senior job at the end of 2015 after serving three years at the helm but somehow destiny pulled him back for one more year but as the saying goes ‘character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries’.
Tony Kelly has a glistening honour of medals, the All-Ireland Senior hurling one being the stand-out but all that evades him of the finished article, a Clare SHC medal.
Known around the Emerald Isle as a sturdy energetic Gaelic Footballer, Gary Brennan will represent his hurling club in Sunday's Clare SHC Final vying to win Ballyea's first ever title in the competitions 130 year existence.
On Sunday, Ballyea make their first appearance in a Clare SHC Final since 2003 and one characteristic that Ballyea have shown more than other years is 'honesty'.
