Belief guides Banner through rocky patch – Bugler

THE after-match media scrum surrounding Clare wing-back Brendan Bugler was every bit as suffocating as the most intense on-field moments in Thurles.

Pinned against a wall underneath the old Semple Stadium stand, the Whitegate teacher felt Clare responded well to a poor first-half display.
“We had the belief. We had spoken about how they might hit us for two or three goals but it’s all about how you respond. Luckily, today we responded well. We’ll enjoy this for what it is but straight away, we’ll focus on Cork in three weeks’ time. That’s going to be a massive battle. We’ve had two or three tough battles against them this year but hopefully, we’ll get on a bit of a run,” the Sunday Game man of the match said.

His own display mirrored that of Clare. Bugler hurled much better after half-time than he had in the opening 35 minutes.
“They won the majority of possession in the half-forward line in the first half. A time comes in a game when you have to stand up and be counted. We did stand up and the younger lads then drove it home,” Bugler noted.

He acknowledged that had Waterford pointed some of their 14 wides, including four at the start of the second half, they could have pulled away from Clare.
“They could have. That’s something we’ll have to address for the next day. If Cork go eight points up, it’s going to be hard to claw that back. That’s something we’re going to have to work on for the next three weeks and we’re delighted that we’re in a position that we can work on it. A lot of guys made their championship debuts today and showed well. That’s what it’s all about, getting your opportunity and taking it,” he reflected.

As for Cork, Bugler is adamant Clare’s league and Waterford Crystal wins over the Rebels will count for nothing in the Gaelic Grounds on June 23.
“I wouldn’t look into those two games at all. Championship is championship. It’s going to be a different game completely,” he predicted.

Waterford manager Michael Ryan felt his side’s profligacy cost them dearly.
“We lost the game in the six or seven minutes after half-time. We had four good chances and we needed to take one or two of those. We gave Clare a lifeline and then they got a bit of a run on us. There was no catching them then. You have to take your chances when it matters and we didn’t do that today,” he stated.

However, Ryan was adamant that Clare were not significantly fitter than his team.
“It looks as if you’re physically fitter or stronger when you’re going well. It didn’t look that way in the first half. I don’t think our physical conditioning was the problem. I think it’s just the fact that we didn’t nail them when we had the chance. But having said that, well done to Clare. They have an excellent team and they fully deserved their victory. No qualms about it,” the magnanimous Waterford man added.