The 2023 All-Ireland hurling semi-final is not an occasion that Clooney-Quin and Clare mid- fielder/forward Ryan Taylor has fond memories of. In that game he suffered a cruciate knee injury which would keep him out of action for twelve months. To add to the woe, Clare lost out to Kilkenny in that tie in Croke Park.
Fast forward a year to the 2024 All-Ireland semi-final and a meeting with the same opposition. This game holds sweeter memories for Ryan as it marked his return to the playing fields. To add to the celebrations, Clare won and qualified for the All-Ireland final which resulted in a thrilling win over Cork with the Quin native playing his part.
“That was a great day and a great occasion and it was celebrated. We had a great ten day holiday which was a nice reward and it was also nice to be acknowledged with the medal presentation recently. These things have to be acknowledged”, according to Ryan who helps run the family pub in Market Street in Ennis.
“That’s all over now and the focus is very much on 2025,” according to Ryan. “As great as last year was, it’s finished and a line has been drawn. It’s a new year and it is starting against Kilkenny, a great team that will be coming here on Sunday with a strong line up. They will want to have a cut off the reigning champions who beat them in the league final and the All-Ireland semi-final
last year”. According to the midfielder Clare have had “a very good pre-season and we are all looking forward the matches. The pre-season has to be done and we are all looking forward to the games now. It’s a heavy schedule of games but the championship is in April which isn’t too far away. We know how hard Munster has been for the last few years. We have Cork coming to Ennis in April and we are under no illusions as to the task we are facing.”
Continuing, he said, “We will be taking each game as it comes, Home advantage is very important and Cusack Park is a fortress for us. In Munster anyone can beat anyone so we need to be ready.”
For now the focus is on Sunday’s opening league tie and the meeting with Kilkenny. “They are first on the list in what is a very competitive league. We will be playing all the top teams and we can’t afford to be ghosting through any game. All are important and all teams are strong so we are sure to face some very hard games”.
For a number of players in the Clare panel, there is the added task of Fitzgibbon cup games. Pointing out that “it’s a little while since I had to deal with that”, he went on to say “it is a very demanding schedule. It is a tricky one which has to be managed”.
Having missed out on last year’s successful league campaign, the Clooney-Quin clubman is, understandably, looking forward to this season’s competition. Given the impact he has made since joining the squad, Clare fans are confident that he is set to play a big part in the team’s 2025 schedule of games.
