Second-half goals from Dungiven clubmates Pádraig Haran and Darragh O’Neill shot St Patrick’s Maghera to a sixth Hogan Cup title on Monday in Croke Park.
The Ulster champions were more dominant than the scoreline suggested and missed a host of chances in a first-half they controlled.
Darragh Beirne notched all four of the Claremorris points but couldn’t turn the game only for a jaw-dropping save from goalkeeper Jack McCloy with five minutes remaining.
A goal would’ve cut the margin to three points and McCloy then denied Dara Flanagan.
Cormac Óg McCloskey added a Maghera point after Jack Noone had blocked his goal chance before O’Neill’s goal sealed victory with the last action of the game.
The Derry side were 0-05 to 0-01 ahead at half-time but left scores behind them, including a goal chance when Man of the Match Haran was blocked by Mark Noonan.
From the moment McCloskey kicked them ahead in the third minute with his first touch, Maghera never looked back.
Odhran Doherty added a second point with defender Pádraig O’Kane making it three before Beirne opened the Claremorris scoring.
Maghera lost captain Cahal McKaigue to a hamstring injury and had seven first-half wides in all despite having the breeze. At the other end, Rian Collins’ defending typified how Maghera closed the door.
Haran bagged a Maghera goal following a surging run in the 40th minute, a move that began with Dara Doherty’s interception with Finbar McShane and Darach McGonigle firing on the afterburners.
It took a wonder save from McCloy to deny Beirne and he made a further stop from Flanagan.
Maghera, with Cabhan McIvor, Haran and O’Neill ferrying the ball through midfield, held control with O’Neill hitting the second goal with the last play.
Maghera: J McCloy; R Collins, P O’Kane (0-01), N McNicholl; D Doherty, F McShane (0-01), P Haran (1-01); G McIvor, D O’Neill (1-00); T McHugh, C McKaigue; O Doherty (0-01), M McGurk; D McGonigle (0-01), C McCloskey (0-03).
Subs: Kevin Barry Mullan for McKaigue (inj 26), Dara O’Kane for McGurk (43), Daithi McCloskey for O’Kane (60), Fionn O’Sullivan for McGonigle (63).
Claremorris: E Campbell; T Hession, R Mortimer, N Gill, D Hurley, M Noonan; D Flanagan; C Cassidy, C Tierney; R Kelly, J Mullin, D Burke; S O’Connell, D Beirne (0-04, 1f), C Treacy.
Subs: Jack Comer for O’Connell (40), Ben Sheridan for Mullin (43), Jack Noone for Treacy (54), Stefan Petkovic for Gill (60), Fionnán Sweeney for Burke (62).
Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone)
Attendance: 5,700