*Loyal Clare supporter John Joe Costelloe and David McInerney. Photograph: Martin Connolly
It’s exactly a decade on from when David McInerney first embraced a winter programme as part of the Clare senior hurling squad.
However, while his vast bank of experience has been frustrating offset by injuries in recent years, his boyish eagerness and a determination to build upon a hugely encouraging 2022 season means that the Tulla man is rearing to go once more.
“I’m definitely looking forward to another year. Last year ended poorly for us but overall it was a very enjoyable year. Now I know we didn’t finish it with any silverware and had a bad performance against Kilkenny but that kind of overshadows what came before it as it was extremely enjoyable championship to be a part of. And going on that, being back in training now and looking forward to 2023, you can only be optimistic and hopeful for the year ahead”.
So what are the major differences from the Davy Mc of 2012 and 2022?
“Well, thinking back to my first off season when Fitzy called me in, when you’re a young lad like that, you’re just mad for road and you’re not really thinking about anything else because you’re there to impress. Now ten years later and preparing for my eleventh championship, I have to mind myself a little bit more. I definitely can’t be going as hard as I was when I was a 20 year old but I think I nearly appreciate the off-seasons and the championships more as I’m hitting this age.
“When I started off, I was just delighted to be there and happy to be doing whatever but now I’m actually looking forward to the new year even more and the hunger has nearly grown if anything”.
Was that due to have a clean bill of health for Clare last summer?
“I definitely got a great run at it last year and it was very enjoyable as I felt that my body was in good shape. I probably paid more attention to it in that there seems to be a culture in the GAA that you kind of keep going even though you have a niggle or an injury just so you can play.
“I’ve done it before and definitely did it with the club a little last year but with the inter-county, I just made sure that everything was one hundred per cent right and it’s about knowing when to push yourself and when to just step back and admit that something isn’t right.
“I had to be so conscious of it in 2022 because the season before that was just torture so I had to just discipline myself to be more conscious of my body. After all, I hate missing training and I hate watching training so It’s very hard for me to say I can’t train as hard any more.
“I suppose I’m just training smarter now rather than harder because I was trying to keep up with lads that were ten years younger than me and that were bulling for road just like I was when I was a young lad. Obviously there’s a competitive nature among hurlers that you’re always trying to outdo your marker in training but I think I’ve come to realise over the last year or two that I have to be smarter rather than dogging myself.
“So now I tend to just to let the young lads off to burn their energy while the likes of myself and Conlon and them, we’re just trying to make sure that we’re one hundred per cent right.”
The benefits of a more considered approach was clearly highlighted by McInerney’s superb return to his brilliant best at wing-back as after soaring to an All-Star award in his debut season in 2012, he was also honoured with another All-Star nomination in September.
“It was nice to get it because for me personally, I was very disappointed with the two seasons before that. The first season was the COVID one and while my body was fine and I had no injuries, I just never got going at any stage and I missed the fans and the support and I didn’t hurl well and we were eventually beaten by Waterford below in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
“The following year, the fans were allowed back alright but my body just broke down. We had been training individually with COVID at the start of 2021 and when we were allowed to train together again, two or three sessions into it my body just broke down and I just couldn’t get back into the team really for the rest of the year and I was never comfortable either.
“So from a personal point of view, it was just lovely last year as I think I played every single second of championship hurling which was obviously my aim at the start of the year. And for the team to go so well too was even sweeter so hopefully this year we can have much more of the same and even go another step if we’re able to.”
His recognition of the supporters’ loyalty and backing over the years is something that clearly strikes a chord with the Tulla talisman as during the conversation, he consistently references the appreciation of the Banner’s support both off the field in terms of Club Clare as well as the physical backing from the stands.
“I think that round-robin format in Munster is just incredible. Playing home and away fixtures is brilliant for the GAA as bringing teams to Ennis is something we love because we find the support amazing when we play there. I’ve even talked to lads from other counties who say how much of an atmosphere there is in Cusack Park and then going to the likes of Thurles and beating Tipperary there as we did last year, those days are also very, very special.
“When COVID was around and there were no fans, by God it made you appreciate how important they are as the championship games felt like challenge matches at times because you could hear everyone in the stands and hear every ball being struck.
“Contrast that with the likes of the Munster Final last year against Limerick in Thurles which was just incredibly special and both sets of fans definitely added to that.
“I think if that was a Munster Final during COVID times, the game itself would never have reached the intensity levels that it did so it just goes to show how influential the supporters can be in creating a huge buzz as the players themselves react to those roars from the stand.
“The fans have been brilliant too in helping fund the county teams at all ages through Club Clare’s initiatives and in particular the membership offering so it’s up to us to give them something to cheer about on the field.
“For 2023, I think we have two home fixtures with Cork and Tipp coming to Ennis this summer and then have Limerick and Waterford away so getting fans down to Walsh Park and the Gaelic Grounds will be very important for us because players definitely, definitely need the back up of their support.
“We get that unbelievably in Ennis and we’ve been told that numerous times so hopefully we can give our fans a good bit more to shout about next year and get off to a good start in Munster.”
Club Clare membership for 2023 can now be obtained for yourself or as a Christmas present for others at www.clubclare.com
