*Ryan Taylor and his family in Croke Park. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill RYAN TAYLOR had the longest journey of the Clare panel to Croke Park, overcoming a year-long ACL injury to play his part in the county’s All-Ireland success.
*Tony Kelly and Brian Lohan lift the Liam MacCarthy. Photograph: Joe Buckley CLARE manager Brian Lohan was lifted shoulder high as he made his return to his native Shannon fresh from guiding the county to win the All-Ireland senior hurling championship.
*Tony Kelly lifts the Liam McCarthy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CAPTAINING Clare to All-Ireland glory “is the best thing I probably will ever do in hurling,” Tony Kelly has said.
*Ian Galvin and Conor Cleary celebrate at the final whistle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CONOR Cleary can never be accused of not giving his all when wearing the county jersey and the All-Ireland final was another such example of him giving every last drop in saffron and blue.
*John Conlon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill JOHN CONLON has made more championship appearances than any Clare hurlers and the two-time All-Ireland winner has confirmed he’ll be lining out with the county once more next year.
*Brian Lohan is lifted shoulder high in Shannon. Photograph: Eamon Ward ALL-IRELAND winning Clare manager, Brian Lohan has expressed his delight at the county’s hurlers securing “the ultimate reward in hurling”.
*Photograph: Eamon Ward THOUSANDS of Clare supporters flocked into the Fair Green on Monday evening to welcome home their hurling heroes, the recently crowned All-Ireland champions.
*Clare captain, Tony Kelly with manager Brian Lohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill “IN Clare hurling like a religion and Brian Lohan is like our God,” said Tony Kelly as he captained the county to All-Ireland glory.
*Clare’s Tony Kelly with the Liam MacCarthy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill A CHARACTER filled display saw Clare’s senior hurlers crowned All-Ireland champions for the fifth time with an extra time win over Cork.
*Paul Flanagan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill ONE irritating stigma that has consistently been thrown at Clare nationally over the past decade is that this team peaked in 2013 and were almost lucky to claim that crown as they failed to back it up ever since.
