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*Ian Galvin leads an attack for Clonlara. Photograph: Ruthie Griffin
COURAGE was shown in abundance by Clonlara to eek out an opening round win in the Clare SHC according to manager Donal Madden who said it was “nonsense” to question their character.
Clonlara survived a scare to defeat St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield by four points in a game that was level on twelve different occasions.
Now in his fifth season as Clonlara manager, Donal Madden stressed that it would be silly for anyone to dismiss Doora/Barefield’s credentials in the competitive Group 1. “We were put to the pin of our collars this evening but anyone that would write Doora/Barefield off would do so at their peril. Look at the Clare minor and under 20 teams of recent years and their involvement there. They have huge numbers and huge underage talent coming”.
He told The Clare Echo, “there are no handy games in the Clare championship. They are training since last January and they are not going to come here and be rolled over. We knew the battle that was coming and we are just delighted to get over the line and we showed a lot of character in doing so”.
There were fiery exchanges in the early stages of the game which saw up to nineteen players involved in a melee. “People care. We are proud of where we are from and they are proud of where they are from. Players aren’t going to lie down. They manned up. People shake hands after and move on. I have fierce respect for Doora/Barefield,” he said of the clashes.
Madden and his management made one change but hailed the introduction of Bryan McLeish. “The impact from the bench was huge, Bryan McLeish got a vital point when introduced and he has been doing that. We have a massive test now in two weeks time. We will go back and re-group. It’s fantastic. I have been involved either playing, coaching or managing for over 20 years and every game is tough. It’s what we live for. We showed a lot of character and courage today. We weren’t going to come and win by ten points, its championship hurling”.
“It’s nonsense to say we haven’t character. How can you question the character of the likes of Ian and Colm Galvin, Jathan and Dylan McMahon, Alan Murnane, Oisin O’Brien and others. They have championship medals, they have All stars, All-Irelands in their pockets. What a hurler John Conlon, He loves where he is from and we are so proud of him, proud that he is one of ours. We were delighted to have David Fitzgerald back after a cruciate injury. We have a lot of injuries. Hopefully we will have more back the next day. We will try and win a second round next and see where that will take us”.
