AIB revisit the epic All Ireland Senior Hurling Semi-Final of 2011

For many, it was an ordinary Saturday in February 2011. For those who were present in Semple Stadium, they witnessed an epic encounter between Waterford’s De La Salle and Galway’s Clarinbridge in a memorable All Ireland Club Semi-Final. Spectators were subjected to an unforgettable match and nail biting drama. A total of 53 scores led to a final twist in the dying seconds - which was only one of many displayed by both sides throughout the epic journey at Thurles that afternoon.

Proud to continue its sponsorship of the GAA Club Championships for a 29th consecutive year, AIB has teamed up with The Sports Chronicles to honour some of the most iconic moments from the #TheToughest club championship. Together they have launched a new series, AIB GAA Club Chronicles. The series recounts the stories of some of the most iconic games over the last 28 years as told by some of the main protagonists, for the fans.

Released across AIB’s social channels, the six-part series will bring to life the highs and lows of these legendary games through the unique perspective of those involved on the day. Each episode covers the stories of two rival teams who went head-to-head in a match that left them with memories of one of the best wins or toughest losses of their careers.

Live today, episode 1 delves into the accounts from four GAA greats who were involved in the dramatic 2011 hurling semi-final. John Mullane and Michael Ryan give viewers a sense of the heartbreak they experienced on that decisive day, while Micheál and Liam Donoghue tell the story of Clarinbridge’s euphoric victory which saw them progress to the final by the narrowest of margins with a one-point win.

Liam Donoghue, the then Clarinbridge goalkeeper, portrays how important this fixture was by simply summarising, “Club is number one, County is number two,” while Waterford legend and De La Salle forward John Mullane captured the sheer devastation of the lost opportunity when he admits, “I’ll take that game to my grave”.

It’s an emotional tale with a balanced view from each club, while it demonstrates the importance of club GAA within a community. Created for the families, parishes and communities who have shown unconditional support for their clubs, the AIB GAA Club Chronicles aims to bring these incredible stories back to life for the fans. Through personal interviews, archive footage and photographs, viewers will be able to experience #TheToughest moments throughout AIB’s sponsorship of the All Ireland Club Championships.

Having extended their sponsorship of both Club and County for another five years in 2018, AIB is pleased to continue its sponsorship of the GAA Club Championships for a 29^th consecutive year.

For exclusive content and behind the scenes action from the AIB Camogie and Club Championships follow AIB GAA on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and facebook.com/AIBGAA and www.aib.ie/gaa.

You can watch Episode One here.