*Clare senior hurling manager, Brian Lohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
BRIAN Lohan has said it was “crucial” for Clare’s senior hurlers to respond with a win over Cork following their three point loss to Limerick.
Speaking following Clare’s nail-biting two point win over Cork on Sunday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Lohan said “it was crucial for us that we responded and responded well. Look we did it last year as well. There is good grit amongst this group”.
In the closing stages the impact of the Clare crowd echoed across the Cork grounds and this was acknowledged by the Cratloe resident. “We really appreciate the support we got from our own supporters. You could understand if they didn’t want to come down here today. We really appreciated that they came in such great numbers”.
Following a poor opening half, David Reidy was among the players to charge into the game on the restart and he hit two valuable points for Clare. “David has had a tremendous year, right from the start of the year, I don’t think he has missed any session, he has been really tremendous. In this game when you work you do get rewards, you may not get them all the time but you will get them if you do keep working and David was great today, I am delighted for him,” the Clare manager commented.
Winning in Cork has reignited Clare’s campaign. “Clare are right back in it now, it was so disappointing to lose last week, more so the manner in which we lost. Fair play to our lads, they showed grit today,” Lohan said.
Both Darragh Lohan and Tony Kelly were named in the Clare squad for Sunday but were late omissions. “It was a big blow but we have a good panel working hard all year. Both Darragh and Tony would have loved to play but they couldn’t, if you are injured you are injured. The call was made, it was after Thursday when the teams had to be in and it was up to everyone else to get on with it. With Tony being out, everyone else knows they have to give a little bit extra,” the two-time All-Ireland winning full-back said.
On the extent of Kelly’s injury, the Clare manager stated, “it’s in the hnds of the physios and they are working hard as is Tony”.
In what was a rollercoaster second half, Cork led by seven points with over twenty minutes remaining while Clare then carved out a five point advantage. “In these games you don’t ever have it won till the game is over. It was an up and down game, the scores were coming thick and fast right the way through the game,” he explained.
“We were going to play on till the referee blew the whistle and hope you will be ahead then and today we were,” he concluded.
