There were ups and downs a plenty in Clare and Galway’s drawn All-Ireland SHC semi-final, the Tribesmen started the better but it looked like the Banner were rising at the right time and their captain Patrick O’Connor thought they had the game.

Tubber’s O’Connor felt Aron Shanagher’s goal was going to be the turning point in pushing Clare to their ninth ever All-Ireland SHC final appearance. “I thought we had it and John went through then and I was just waiting for the net to bulge but it didn’t. Those are the things that happened and it’s all about reacting.

He added, “We came here to beat Galway and we didn’t, looking back on the game and the spectacle hurling was the big winner, some outstanding performances from individuals on both sides. Galway are an exceptional team, we’re trying to reach their level, we’ll go back look at it and learn a few things”.

With ninety three minutes of hurling played, Patrick points to Donal Tuohy as an example of the effort put in by all players on the field. “When your goalkeeper goes down with cramp you know it’s been a stressful evening, sore bodies, lads were cramping, it’s just a sign of the conditioning of both teams. Knowing our setup and what the lads have done with us you couldn’t speak highly enough of them to drag so many bodies through ninety minutes of an All-Ireland semi-final”.

In defence, the presence of Colm Galvin as a sweeper allowed Clare to slowly settle into the game following a poor opening quarter. “Credit again when they knew to bring him out because he played a lot of hurling around the middle as well, it was a balancing act, credit to Colm for the way he played it, he knew what to do and did it exceptionally well, we had ninety minutes to look at each other we’ll know an awful lot about each other and I’m sure next weekend won’t disappoint,” O’Connor said of the Clonlara man’s influence on the game.

Clare’s composure was critical to them staying in the game according to the corner back but he lamented their first halves in both normal and extra time as instances in which their standards dropped.

“The key was composure, there was no panic. We analysed how we would get at Galway but you have to hand it to Galway they started like a train on fire but we came into it, we’re in the last four now and teams in it will have their purple patches and we felt we made our purple patches count and they made theirs count. The one at the start was a disappointment and the first half of extra time, we were wasteful in those two periods”.

*Photograph: Martin Connolly

Related News

michael mcnamara 3
AI offers generational opportunity for Mid-West to become Ireland's digital home - McNamara
shannon airport departures 1-2
Passenger numbers up 7% to 1.04m for first half of 2025 at Shannon Airport
shannon airport fencing 2
Shannon Airport install new security fencing following recent breaches
Killaloe-bridge
Trial pedestrianisation period announced for Killaloe to Ballina Bridge

Advertisement

Latest News
shannon airport fencing 2
Shannon Airport install new security fencing following recent breaches
1 DSC_9466
'There's no way we're not going to go again' - O'Donnell says no decisions made but exits from Clare camp unlikely
Killaloe-bridge
Trial pedestrianisation period announced for Killaloe to Ballina Bridge
brendan o'mara
Two Gardaí working full-time on case of €10m drug seizure involving Meelick ex Ryanair pilot
clare rd cycle scheme 1
Council u-turn over systems crash sees public consultation extended for Ennis transport plan
Premium
monaghan v clare 29-06-25 roisin considine jennifer duffy 1
Monaghan make their mark & send Clare out of ladies football championship
éire óg v doora barefield 29-06-25 cusack cup 1
Éire Óg win Cusack Cup for second time with dominant extra time display
waterford v clare minor 28-06-25 liam murphy gearoid o'shea james o'donnell 1
Déise deserving winners over Clare in All-Ireland minor final
tipperary v clare camogie 28-06-25 niamh costigan roisin begley 1
Tipp thump Clare but Carmody's charges still have All-Ireland quarter-final to look forward to
laurel lodge 07-11-23 3
Laurel Lodge resident further remanded in custody for alleged assault of retired judge

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement