David Fitzgerald holds off Ciaran Joyce. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
OUTGOING Head of Operations with Clare GAA, Deirdre Murphy has dismissed analysis that 2026 could be a “last dance” for the county’s senior hurlers.
Off the back of a fourth-ever All-Ireland SHC title in 2024, Clare’s defence of the Liam MacCarthy left an awful lot to be desired with failure to emerge from Munster seeing them fall at the first hurdle.
Two-time All-Ireland winner Shane O’Donnell previously told The Clare Echo that 2026 could be his final year in saffron and blue. “I’ll be a very poor spectator, when I finish when exactly that is next year I’m not one hundred percent sure but I’ll be moving abroad with my girlfriend so that will make things easier, I’ll get the full disconnect”.
At thirty one the Ennis man is younger than some of his starting colleagues such as John Conlon, Tony Kelly, Cathal Malone, David McInerney, David Reidy and Peter Duggan.
Speaking at the launch of the Dr Harty Cup history book, a 600 page publication full of insight and stories from the prestigious Munster schools competition, 2013 All-Ireland winner Colin Ryan stated, “There probably is a feel of a last dance. That group of players would be the first to say that they aren’t getting any younger. But I think they’ve embraced it. I think they’re ready for it”.
At County Convention, outgoing Head of Operations Murphy took aim at the comments and the rhetoric. “Mention of a last dance is far from the truth, the good and the great players play for longer, TJ Reid is thirty eight, some of our players are entering their thirties but they are going nowhere. We’ve a really exciting crop of players trying to take their place off them”.
She stressed, “There are exciting times ahead for our players, I wanted to show a bit of backing and faith in the two flagship teams that will be representing us”.
Newmarket-on-Fergus’ Ryan has always been among the positive yet honest analysts regarding Clare hurling since his retirement. The optimism he expressed regarding the chance to trial new players in the lower level of the Allianz National Hurling League was not referenced by Murphy.
“We did miss Shane last year. John wasn’t 100%. Tony had a phenomenal campaign for his club, so I’m hoping that there’s a kick in them yet. They have been absolutely phenomenal servants to Clare hurling, but you are going to need to find a couple more players. Mark Rodgers and the likes are going to have to step up the gears, and there’s going to have to be a couple of new players that come along too. When you look at the league campaign and the fact that they’re going to be down a division, maybe there’s a chance to find a couple of players and give them a bit more game time. But we are definitely going to need to find a few players,” Colin said.
