1998 was full of drama on the hurling fields of Ireland with the infamous Munster Final between Clare and Waterford, the All Ireland Semi Final trilogy with Offaly and the Clare Club U21 Hurling Championship.
To set the scene the 'Bridge boys of 1998 were part of a hurling frenzy in the parish around the time - so much so that there were so many lads looking to don the Saffron and Blue that the club made history by entering 2 Championship teams at the age for the first time - U21A and U21C.
Roll back a few years when these boys started their competitive hurling in 1989 as 12 year olds with blitzes throughout the county - At U14 the boys showed some promise after reaching the U14A Championship final only t bee defeated by St Josephs Doora Barefield in Cusack Park. Later that year 11 of the starting team went on to win the all Ireland Community games title captained by Jude Kearney. Hopes were high in 1992 for the U15 title but Doora Barefield ended our hopes in the first round so the Bridge boys were determined come 1993 to overcome the Barefield hoodoo - In a repeat of the U14A final the 'Bridge faced Doora Barefield in the U16A final of 93 saw the Saffron and Blue men overturning the favourites to capture the title. Two years later in 1995 this team reached the Minor A Final against the Clarecastle Magpies. This was a huge occasion for the club as the Minor final was the curtain raiser to the Senior game between the 'Bridge and Scariff. On that occasion the Minor game ended in a draw and the 'Bridge lost the replay while our Seniors won an epic final and went on to the win the All Ireland club final and inspire a new generation.
Pat Corbett, Paddy Meehan, Kieran Toc O'Shea and Noel Murphy (RIP) took over the U21s in 1997 with an aim to win the title which had eluded the club for some time. The team put in a serious winter of training and got their just reward when winning the title against Clarecastle.
12 Months on it was the team of 98 - the boys who had won U16A and lost U14A and Minor A finals.
All shoulders to the wheel was the war cry for 1998 as we set out to defend the title - there was a new blend of youth an experience coming together but had they they right mix?
The initial signs showed the team was struggling early on with big beatings in challenge games including a trimming from the Ben and Jerry show from Newtownshandrum as well as an early exit at the hands of OCMills in the East Clare U21 League.
However it was Championship that turned these boys into different animals and after a massive battle in atrocious conditions in Newmarket we got of to a winning start and revenge for the Minor final defeat by beating the Clarecastle Magpies.
In the Semi final we beat Eire Og also played in Newmarket to setup a repeat of the U14 & U16 Finals against Doora Barefield. In the final in May it ended all square and it was October before the replay took place due to delays for different reasons. The week before the final replay the 'Bridge boys took another trimming against Ennistymons adult team so word was out the 'Bridge were going bad but come the final 6 days later and a trip to Cusack Park the Bridge produced the goods and ran out winners against Doora Barefield to cap off a long but rewarding year.
Photo: Captain Declan Murphy accepting the cup from County Chairman Robert Frost.
The team of 1998 was captained by Declan Murphy who incidentally captained the team to win the U16 Championship in 1993 and interestingly Noel Brodie was also the Doora Barefield captain on both occasions.
Declan Sheedy captained the U21C team who had a wonderful run in the Championship also only to lose out to Kilnamona in the final
Great days all the same with memories and stories for life all set to be relived in Gillys Bar tonight - Thursday 28th December from 8:30pm.
All are welcome.
Back Row: Dr. Padraig Quinn, Martin Murray (RIP), Stopfan Fitzpatrick, Jim Spaight, Errol Tuohy, Brian O'Loughlin, Damien Loughnane, Podge Flannery, Gerry O'Halloran, Declan Sheedy, Adrian Chaplin, Noel Flannery, Eddie Russell, Jude Kearney, Noel Murphy (RIP), Kieran Toc O'Shea.
Middle: Paddy Meehan, Barry Downes, John O'Meara, Johnny Swords, PAul Corbett (Mascot), Kevin Phelan (Vice Capt), Declan Murphy (Capt), Fergal Landy, Cathal Walsh, Brian Casey, John Reddan, Olly Fitzpatrick, John Corbett, Ronan O'Shea (Mascot), Tom Keogh, Pat Corbett.
Front: Eoin O'Halloran (Mascot), Timmy Crowe (Mascot), Pa Sheehan (Mascot), Johnny Corbett, Paul McNamara, Paul Fitzpatrick, Robert Conlon, Eric Lynch, Colm Noonan, Kevin Fitzpatrick, James Liddane.
