*Clare goalkeeper, Stephen Ryan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
IN CLARE’S two championship games of this year, Stephen Ryan has managed to keep a clean sheet but he’s well aware Sunday’s Munster final will be his stiffest test to date.
Stephen made his championship debut in 2019 when Clare recorded a slender one point win over Waterford in Cusack Park and he managed to prevent the umpires from reaching for a green flag on this occasion. Kerry eliminated Colm Collins’ men at the semi-final stage with James O’Donoghue goaling just before half-time, a certain David Clifford providing the assist in what was their only goal.
When it came to the next showdown with Kerry down in Fitzgerald Stadium in 2021, they recorded their biggest win over Clare during Colm Collins’ tenure when it finished 3-22 1-11.
Changing the record and picking up a win against Kerry is the focus for Stephen and Clare this weekend in his third senior championship tie against Kerry. “My debut year was against Kerry in 2019, we got them in the Park and we ran them close, they got a goal in the first half which gave them a lead going in at half-time. We’ve played them at underage, we’ve had some success against them but not a lot, we’re hoping to change that the next day”.
Ryan emphasised how he is “looking forward” to the Munster final, an indicator that the focus is always on the next ball and constantly pressing the reset button, such a mindset has to be mandatory when lining out between the posts. “The pressure is on them which is grand too, we have our own pressure on ourselves to perform and get a good performance on the day. Hopefully we can rattle it now”.
Goalkeepers and the loneliness of standing between the posts has come under the spotlight in the past two weeks but Stephen felt the solidarity was evident from within their own set-up to stop it from being such a secluded spot. “Joe Hayes is there now and David Sexton is in there and so is Thomas Collins, we’ve a nice goalie group so I wouldn’t see it’s lonely but maybe it could be if things go wrong, hopefully not”.
Joe Hayes’ addition as goalkeeper coach this season has been welcomed with open arms by players and management alike. Lissycasey’s Hayes who retired as Clare goalkeeper following the 2017 season has proven to be a positive influence on Stephen. “He’s been excellent, he’s brought a fresh perspective with new ideas which is good, he is top class, it’s been great to work with him and he’s been a great addition to the team. For my own game, we’ve put a lot of emphasis on kickouts, the short ones have been quite successful for us, the long ones we’ve got them away too, it’s probably the emphasis on the kickouts which has become such a crucial part of the game today”.
An air of enthusiasm unexpectedly is bouncing off the Clare goalkeeper ahead of Sunday’s tie which throws in at 4pm in the Gaelic Grounds. His work with AIB in the capital will preclude him from experiencing the build-up in his native Kilrush, “I’ll be in Dublin for the week so I’ll miss the build-up in Kilrush, there will be Clare flags down and lads will be looking forward to it”.
Stopping Kerry from getting momentum which would arise from raiding for goals is crucial to causing an upset on Sunday, he acknowledged. “The few clean sheets in the last few games are nice, it has definitely helped and I’m delighted about that, I’m really looking forward to the Munster final. The backline don’t want to be conceding goals especially the next day, they are well able to score them so we will have to keep it tight at the back”.
He added, “The goals is the big one for us as defenders and the goalkeeper, trying to keep them out and limit the amount of opportunities they get up front and trying to catch them then on the other side, hopefully that is what will happen”.
Wins over Cork and Limerick have certainly lifted the mood of football followers in Clare. “We’ve good experience in Limerick from the last day and over the years, we’re really looking forward to it, a first final so hopefully it will be a good one. The support has been great, a lot of people have travelled behind us and hopefully we will get a nice support in the Gaelic Grounds the next day, there has been an unreal buzz for the last few games and hopefully we’ll continue that on again”.
