*Clare coach Shane Hassett with Aidan McCarthy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’S survivors from the 2013 team stood tallest to help the county bridge an eleven year wait for All-Ireland success.
Two-time All-Ireland winner John Conlon has been hailed as one of the best hurlers to play the game by Clare coach Shane Hassett who also described Tony Kelly like “a boy in a playground” with the skills he showcased on the biggest day.
Prior to Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling final, the impact of Cork’s Shane Barrett was a focus given that he caused a lot of problems for Limerick centre back Declan Hannon in their semi-final win.
This narrative strengthened the resolve of Clare’s centre back, John Conlon who was determined to win this individual battle, Clare selector Shane Hassett maintained. “People were saying John would not have the legs to stay with their centre forward, Shane Barrett, who is an exceptional talent, John being John probably took that as an insult. He proved people wrong today, John Conlon is one of the best hurlers that has ever graced the game and he has shown that at centre back and in the forwards for this county”.
Emerging from the Clare dressing room in Croke Park, Hassett commented, “What a game of hurling. I don’t know what to say other than what a game of hurling”.
He explained, “We thought in the second half of normal time that we could have pushed on and maybe won it but Cork being Cork brought on good pace in their forwards and they got their scores and got it back. Maybe we gave away one or two silly frees that helped them get the chance to equalise”.
Clare’s bench had a massive impact in the one point extra-time win, he said. “A lot of our guys were out on their feet but we got them in and some of them put up their hands and said we can’t go any more and some of them said put me out there and we will keep going and that’s what they did. Cork took the lead again and we plugged them back and that little bit of class in the second half of extra time proved decisive. We emptied our bench, young Shane Meehan came on and got a score to put us three up, we needed every single score”.
Leaders stood up when the need was greatest in the Clare camp, the Tipperary native said. “I don’t know where to even start. Tony and John (Conlon), they were not saying no today, also Davy Mac (McInerney), I could name everyone but especially those guys who did it back in 2013, they were not saying no”.
“Tony went out and played like he was a boy in a playground, What a goal, we will be looking at that goal for decades to come, the way he took control of that game in extra time. He popped up with scores and took on ball. He has been really struggling with injury for the last number of months at this stage”, continued Shane.
Hassett was also full of praise for the team’s defence. “Look at Conor Leen, what a performance, one of the best I have seen in a long long time, Cleary’s shoulder went out but he wanted to stay going and we had to pull him off the field. Adam Hogan did well also, himself and Cleary got early yellow cards but they adapted quite well”.
The performance of the half back trio really pleased Hassett. “I don’t think I have seen a better performance out of the half back line in a long long time, they were absolutely immense. Cian Galvin came in and never looked out of place, same with Darragh Lohan in the full back line”.
Shane explained, “we put the question to our guys, we said it was going to be whichever set of forwards worked the hardest that would win the day. There was a period in the second quarter when our forwards worked so hard and they took the pressure off our backs as well which helped. We never dropped the heads and the lads grew in confidence. We have learned over the years but especially from the early games this year. In the Limerick game we were 9 up and they plugged us back and they won well in the finish. Against Cork in Cork we were 8 down and we plugged them back. Eight or nine points now is a dangerous lead, it takes serious mentality to hold on to a lead like that and push on”.
Hassett told The Clare Echo, “The lads didn’t look at the scoreboard, they knew they were in the game. When 8 or 9 down you still have a great chance. When Cork got the goal we turned around and got a point and brought it back to six, we kept plugging away.
“I never got to playing at senior level, I have got here now as a coach and it’s so sweet. When the boys look back they won’t care about what type of game it was, They are so happy and thrilled that they have won an All-Ireland because they are not won easily,” he concluded.
