*Mark Rodgers battles to win possession. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
STARTING their National League campaign with a win has been a strong way for Clare’s hurlers to respond to the frustration felt by supporters last year, manager Brian Lohan has said.
A “hard earned” 3-18 1-22 round one victory over Dublin saw Clare pick up the first two points on offer in Division 1B of the Allianz National Hurling League as they attempt to bounce back to the top tier following last year’s relegation.
Clare manager, Brian Lohan outlined, “there is nothing easy about the competition. Dublin are a quality side, you can see they are doing an awful lot of things right, it was a tough game and to have come out of it having made loads of mistakes in our first day out is pleasing. We showed a lot of resolve and we got a great impact from the lads that came off the bench which is very encouraging as well”.
He continued, “we responded well, there was a patch in the second half when they scored 1-3 without reply and we were able to respond to that. We were dangerous the whole time and Tony got that goal at the end”.
How some of the less established players fared when introduced was pleasing for the two-time All-Ireland winner. “Niall O’Farrell, Diarmuid Stritch, Colm O’Meara and Jack O’Neill who was there last year, are all still learning, their attitude is just brilliant, their work rate off the field and on the field is just excellent, it’s a tribute to them, they are a smashing bunch of guys and great to be involved with”.
All majors arrived at important times for Clare, he felt. “We needed all the goals, our workrate was excellent for those goals. The two in the first half were turnover goals which are hard to get and it’s a real bonus when you get those turnover goals. They were a reward for our workrate in the first half when our tackle rate was great”.
“Dublin are a form team, they were unlucky not to win the Walsh Cup. This was a real tough game against an athletic and fit team, full of purpose and desire and we were expecting that,” he added.
Turning to next week and the team’s trip to play Antrim he said, “it’s another big test. All games are hard to win regardless of what the competition. There are an awful lot of teams pushing forward. We were under a lot of pressure especially after how we performed last year. Supporters were a little bit frustrated last year and it was good for us to respond, It’s a great boost”.
Jack Kirwan was unavailable for Sunday’s league opener, the Parteen/Meelick forward was stretchered off in Clare’s first outing of the year when defeating Limerick at the beginning of January. “Today was too early for him. He has responded well to the protocols and he should be okay for training this week”, Lohan confirmed.
