Where were you on the 21st October 2001? In case you are too young to know, this was the day that the Clarinbridge GAA club reached the ‘holy grail’ of Galway hurling by winning the club’s first County Senior championship. Anyone who was there will never forget the euphoria, when after falling in 3 past County finals, we eventually got our hands on the cup. It took 112 years to achieve victory, in what was generally agreed to be an enthralling battle against the then All-Ireland Champions, Athenry.
The ‘Bridge finally came of age that day, but the attendance of over 10,000 at Duggan Park Ballinasloe had to wait to injury time for the ‘Bridge to score a free and gain victory by the narrowest of margins. It had all the ingredients of a never-to-be-forgotten day and a momentous night in Clarinbridge village, which was attended by clubs far and near, including the Athenry team, who turned up to a man.