*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Truagh/Clonlara are confident they will take their first senior final appearance in their stride.
Joint captains, Eimear Kelly and Michelle Powell say they “are here to enjoy the occasion, the build up and we are really looking forward to the weekend. It is our first time to get to the final. We will enjoy the lead up to the game and we will take it in our stride”.
Getting to the final “is our biggest step so far. We have been there for the past few years and for us it was massive to win the semi-final. We are here to enjoy the occasion and the build up. We are really looking forward to the weekend,” Eimear stated.
“We only beat Inagh-Kilnamona by a point but it was great as it put us into the semi-final against Kilkishen/Bodyke. That was a very tough game. We beat the ‘Bridge early in the competition and we really had a tough game against them also. Every game is so competitive in Clare. There have been big shocks in he group stages in the past few years,” Michelle noted.
Qualifying for the final “is massive for the parish. In the last week and a half people have really been getting behind the team, sending us text messages while bunting and flags have been put up throughout the parish. They are all getting behind us,” Kelly outlined.
Clare hurling captain John Conlon is a member of the backroom team and Eimear believes that his influence “is massive. What a lot of people don’t realise is that John has been involved with us for the last few years. He is a most down to earth fella and his involvement is fantastic for the development of players. He brings a professional edge and adds loads to the management and while it is great to have him involved, he is just one cog in the management wheel and they all play their part”.
Both ladies would, of course, love to be stepping up to accept the McMahon cup on Saturday but right now they are enjoying the lead up to throw in.
