*Robin Mounsey and Peter Duggan pressurise Robert Downey. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
BRIAN LOHAN has hailed his charges as “a special bunch” after they recorded back to back provincial wins for the first time since June 2018.
Victories over Tipperary and Cork in Semple Stadium within the space of seven days have Clare’s senior hurlers on the cusp of a Munster Final appearance and also of qualifying for the All-Ireland series with two counties from the province set to be knocked out within the next twenty days.
Experiences of Aidan McCarthy’s black card and sin bin in last year’s Munster semi-final defeat to Tipperary aided Clare following the dismissal of Ian Galvin on fifty minutes on Sunday with the Banner responding with 0-03 in succession, manager Lohan surmised, “Maybe last year we reacted negatively or didn’t react all that positively when we did have things go against us”. The response was labelled as the Shannon mas as “outstanding”.
Speaking moments after Sunday’s two point win, he said they needed to look at the sending off before making a decision on their next course of action.
A strong start set the way for Clare who had 0-10 on the board inside the first sixteen minutes, limiting Cork to just 0-03 in this spell. “There was a good bit of endeavour and desire from the players all week, they were mad to get down here and get working”. He added, “They are savage guys, really class guys but they are driving it in training and the gym, they’re great guys”.
“They are all working so hard, they do massive work on the field but also in the gym and on their own, they’re a special bunch”.
Leading by six points at half-time, Clare extended the advantage to eight within two minutes of the restart in what the former county captain pinpointed as “crucial scores” against the breeze. “David and Ian got them, they’ve been outstanding for us, I’m very happy”.
Praise was extended to number three Conor Cleary by the ex full-back, “Conor is just a brilliant guy for us, he has been for a long number of years even though he is a young man, he’s been outstanding”.
Hosting two big games against Limerick and Waterford represents a great occasion for the county’s players and supporters, he believed. “It is something to really look forward, two games at home, Limerick coming next for us which is great. We’ll have a break for one weekend and go again”.
