*Clonlara’s Colm Galvin. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Which Clonlara shows up in the Park on Friday evening will go a long way to dictating the outcome of this year’s senior hurling title. That may seem like a dramatic statement, especially before a ball has even been pucked. However, considering the refreshing impact of their 2023 breakthrough with a new-look and exciting squad, Clon were expected to dominate the Clare landscape for the foreseeable future.
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Clonlara Factfile:
Management: Donal Madden (Manager); Niall Hogan, Paul Browne, Evan Condon (Coaches); Mike Stritch, Ger O’Connell (Selectors); Eric Finn (S&C); Johnny McGuiness (Kit Man); Claire Gilligan (Physio); Kate Ryan, Mary Moriarty (First Aid)
Captain: Ian Galvin
Key Player: John Conlon
One to Watch: Darragh Dillon
Fresh Blood: Conor Cahill, Darragh Dillon, Ciaran Howard, Alan Murnane
Departure Gate: Micheál O’Loughlin (Abroad)
Treatment Table: David Fitzgerald (ACL)
Titles Won: 3 (1919, 2008, 2023)
Last season’s run: Knocked out in the quarter-final by Sixmilebridge
Schedule:
Round 1 v Sixmilebridge on Friday July 25th in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg Ennis (Friday, July 25th) at 19:00
Round 2 v St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield on Saturday August 9th in O’Garney Park Sixmilebridge at 17:00
Round 3 v Crusheen on Saturday August 23rd in Dr. Daly Park Tulla at 17:00
Championship power ranking: 9
There was something just a bit off in their title defence last year though, a difficult to put your finger on flatness that permeated throughout the group stages and eventually led to their premature exit to neighbours Sixmilebridge at the last eight stage.
However, having already snatched a first Clare Cup crown in nine years at the start of the month, they return to Zimmer Biomet Páirc Ciosóg and opponents ‘Bridge in much more confident fettle according to manager Donal Madden.
“It was great to get that early boost. Winning is a habit and it builds momentum and equally it provide a platform for numerous players to put their hand up and become part of the panel. A number of guys have done that and off the back of their performances in the Clare Cup are now going to start in the championship which just shows how really beneficial the competition has been for us. As for taking on the ‘Bridge again, look let’s call a spade a spade, they were far superior to us last year. They outfought us and outmuscled us so while it may have been tight enough on the scoreboard, when we went back and looked at it, they were well ahead of us for whatever reason.
“Add in Cathal Malone to that group of players this year and undoubtedly they will be even better so if we’re not in tip top shape, we could be in trouble. We know that when you’re playing the ‘Bridge you simply have to perform as they have many, many championships won so we know that we’re up against it but we’ll be up for it”.
Rumours of injuries to key players such as captain Ian Galvin, a long-term injury to wing-back David Fitzgerald and the possible absence of Micheál O’Loughlin who is currently abroad are immediately dismissed by the 2008 winning player and 2023 title winning manager. “We have a full panel of players to pick from. We have a matchday 26 ready to take on Sixmilebridge on Friday. We’re not going to go with the narrative that we’re missing this guy and that guy, we’ve 26 fit players who are very proud to represent Clonlara and that’s what we’ve going with so we’ve a clean bill of health.
“Look, last year didn’t go according to play but regardless of injuries, we’ve a lot of good hurlers and we’ve a huge effort put in. We’ve worked really, really hard all year and each season as a club we’re trying to add two or three new young players to the squad. We’ve a couple back in too, one from Australia, one from America and a few from injury as well so we feel that we’ve a much stronger panel that in previous years and real quality there but the challenge is to turn up and perform and being on song on the day. And if you’re not in Clare, you’ll be left behind. We don’t do anything else down here really but hurl so therefore we have a lot of good hurlers and we’ve put a lot of time into it so hopefully we can show that on the field now.”
Having contested last year’s final, Sixmilebridge pose a difficult first test but Tulla native Madden reckons that there are no easy championship matches at senior level in Clare.
“We were in an extremely difficult group last year. Each game was almost a county final in itself as you had to be really on song and that’s the nature of the Clare Championship. I mean Crusheen and Sxmilebridge have contested the last two county finals and Doora/Barefield are really building too and have good guys over them. Damien [Kennedy] has worn the Barefield jersey with pride and cares a lot about his club as well and they have a lot of exciting players coming through, have been in the last few minor finals and won’t fear anyone.
“Therefore if you’re not at 80 or 90 per cent on a particular day, you’ll be caught. It’s a very balanced but difficult championship where everyone has got to be on song on the day. But that’s what also makes it so fantastic as every one of the 16 teams will feel that they can win it so it’s something to really look forward to. For those of us really involved in the club, this is everything now and it’s exciting to finally get started. The fixtures and dates have been outlined for weeks so there’s no ambiguity so now it’s all about just getting out and hurl”.
