*Graham Ball in possession for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
A FIRST year on the Clare U20 panel was a dream for teenager Graham Ball which was capped off by winning titles at All-Ireland and provincial level as he left Semple Stadium with no regrets.
His vision and smart-decision making on the ball was clear to see with the Clare minor side that he captained last year but Graham brought this to the fore and more as he seamlessly adapted to the U20 ranks to play a starring role in their All-Ireland and Munster success.
To see their commitment result in success at the highest level was very rewarding for the St Flannan’s College student. “It is hard to put it into words, it is an unbelievable feeling, winning Munster was a class feeling but winning an All-Ireland tops it every single day. We’ve a savage group of lads, it has been a group effort and it paid off”.
Involved from the throw-in of Sunday’s final, Graham had a part to play in Clare’s first three scores, scoring the first, winning the turnover which led to Thomas O’Connor’s goal and then providing the assist for Michael Collins to split the posts.
Getting on the ball early is always a focus for the St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield clubman. “I try to start off quick and get into the game quick because if you can get into it quickly then it sets you up for the game, I got on a few balls, got a score and Thomas is a big target man inside so whichever way it goes in he is a great man to win a ball, it is great to have him inside”.
Seventeen years on from Clare’s first All-Ireland at the grade, the county won its fifth and it arrived in Terence Fahy’s fifth season as U20 manager. “I know these things don’t come around too often, I was involved with the minors last year and it was heart-breaking in the final, we know we didn’t play as well as we’d have liked in that final so there was regrets, today I wanted to have no regrets going out on that pitch, try our best and thankfully it worked”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, the eighteen year old admitted that his focus when joining the panel this year was to show what he could offer. “I know I was young so you can’t be expecting too much especially when lads are two or three years older than you and have been there for the last two years. I was trying my best in training every single day and trying to improve, thankfully I did and Terence, Andy and Tomás gave me a chance, thankfully I took it”.
His impact from the bench when coming on as a half-time substitute in the second round win against Limerick clearly demonstrated just what he can do, his possession count was high as he stuck with his motto of getting involved as quick as he can. “I came in at half time against Limerick, in fairness they just gave me the message to ‘play like you’ve been in training and there will be no fear of you’, thankfully I did that and I started the next few games, I dropped back to the bench against Cork but thankfully I had an impact coming on and it stood to me again,” he recalled.
There was a sense of vindication for Ball following on from losing last year’s All-Ireland minor final to leave Semple Stadium this time with a winners medal. “Twelve months later writing the wrongs from last year. Last year’s minor group was exceptional, we know we didn’t play as well as we’d like but it was a savage grouo of lads, I loved every minute of it and I loved every minute of this year with this group of lads, two special groups. It is an unbelievable feeling to win an All-Ireland medal, it is what you dream of as a young lad winning All-Irelands in Thurles”.
