*Clare senior hurling manager, Brian Lohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
DISAPPOINTMENT WAS VISIBLE to see across the face of Brian Lohan in the wake of Clare’s dramatic extra-time Munster final defeat to Limerick.
“We came down here to win and we obviously have a very disappointed dressing room. We came close to winning but we didn’t do it. That’s sport, it’s tough but that’s life”, said the dejected Clare manager after Sunday’s Munster final played in front of an attendance of just over 45,000.
As ever, the effort given by the Clare players did not surprise the Shannon man. “Look, they are a great bunch, they give everything, they are very committed they worked really hard, they were very well tuned in for the game but we met a really good opponent. It’s very disappointing for everyone in there. What can you say”.
“We have a great bunch there, they work really hard, they train hard, they devote their lives to play for the county and their clubs, they are an exceptional bunch, it’s disappointing for them that they didn’t get the reward”.
Tony Kelly “exceptional talents” were referenced by the two-time All-Ireland winner. “He is ours, he is exceptional”. Losing the Ballyea man to injury in the closing minutes of extra time was a blow, “anytime you are missing a really big player it’s massive, Tony for us is massive and is our captain as well. Those are the breaks, you just have to get on with it and put up with it”.
Semple Stadium was labelled by the Banner boss as “a great place to play a game of hurling. It was a great occasion, we got great support from our supporters, it was brilliant. There was nothing easy out there, it’s tough stuff”.
Lohan admitted that he was unsure of the “consequence of this result, we don’t know what affect it will have” and noted that they extended huge energy into winning the provincial championship. “There is a big question mark now, we will have to get ourselves tuned in for two weeks time. We have to have a think about it. We are still in the championship, we put a lot into the Munster championship, we have been talking about it all year so we will see what happens from now”.
He concluded, “we represent a great county, we feel we are in a privileged position to represent the county, we really appreciate the support we have received”.
