Future stars shine bright despite defeat

Even in loss, Clare’s emerging young hurlers again made clear their fearless ambition and voracious appetite for success.

Six started their first ever Munster championship game, while the O’Donovan’s were sprung from the bench. Throw in John Conlon and Colin Ryan, both of whom had already played championship hurling and the number of All-Ireland winning U-21 medallists on view went up to eight, with Conor Cooney too old for the grade by just two years.
None of Clare’s young debutantes looked so raw as to hint that they would have trouble cutting it. All of them tore at Waterford in the opening half with total belief, showing no sign of either nerves or fear.
Granted, the likes of Nicky O’Connell, Seán Collins or John Conlon didn’t sustain their display for the full 70 minutes but they still showed themselves and the Clare hurling public that in time they will.
Monday’s display throws up an interesting question. From where have these young men developed their admirable mentality and how come their elders in their mid-to-late-20s, with some exceptions, didn’t manage this themselves?
On and off the throughout the last decade, the likes of Gerry Quinn, Tony Griffin, Gerry O’Grady, Tony Carmody, Andrew Quinn and Conor Plunkett hinted at greatness but none delivered consistently. Given that this generation started hurling towards the tail end of Clare’s golden era, it’s amazing that the ruthless, competitive mentality of Clare’s All-Ireland winners didn’t rub off on the next generation. Were Clare’s men of the 1990’s unable or unwilling to help shape and harden their young colleagues or were the next generation giving the cluas bodhar, (deaf ear) believing that they knew it all?
Perhaps the attitude and mentality required to compete ferociously and win big, skipped a generation. Whether it’s by fluke or down to some unknown calculated design, Clare’s current crew of All-Ireland U-21 and Sigerson Cup winners have what it takes. Furthermore the acquisition of those medals doesn’t appear to have dimmed their resolve or ambition. They are clearly thinking bigger than that.
Significantly they have been accorded excellent guidance this year at senior level and by people like Cyril Lyons and John Minogue in their U-21 days. On top of that they must have been well schooled at club level to emerge as well-rounded as they are. Because of the absence of seasoned, experienced leaders in the current Clare panel, perhaps the newcomers have been forced into leadership roles.
Even from 100 yards away it was clear that Ger O’Loughlin was extremely pumped up last Monday. That passion and positivity was clearly transmitted to his players who gave it everything.
The challenge ahead now though alters a smidgen for Clare. Next day out they must sustain their display for longer than they managed on the first day of this week. While Cian Dillon and Conor Cooney hurled for every second of the 70 minutes, some of their colleagues wilted as the game went on. Critically though the reason behind this dip didn’t appear to be lack of will or ambition. It was solely down to experience and know how at this level. Waterford also had much better depth as evidenced by the introduction of both Prendergasts – Ken and Eoin McGrath. The O’Donovans and David Barrett definitely made a decent impact from the bench but Waterford introduced men who scored six points from play between them.
As for Davy Fitzgerald, he has done a decent job with Waterford. They didn’t exactly hurl Clare off the field but will now face Cork in the Munster final with lowered expectations and little enough pressure.
Davy though would be better advised to stop harping on about his time with Clare. He gave 17 years of fantastic service to the county and nobody has forgotten that. But now his priority is the development of hurling in Waterford and not in his own county. He owes Clare nothing, not even continual assurances of his passion for the county’s cause. Ironically if Clare had beaten Waterford the result would have seriously undermined Fitzgerald’s standing as an inter-county manager.
Ger O’Loughlin’s task now is to keep heads up and ambition intact. Take another step or two forward. Himself, his management team and young players have made a good fist of it so far but hopefully winning championship games will steel and educate them further, deeper into the summer.