Lohan satisfied with performance in battle with Limerick

It didn’t end in victory but Sunday’s box-office encounter was every bit as satisfying as the previous triumphs over Tipperary and Cork as Clare met fire with fire against runaway All-Ireland favourites Limerick.

Having come into the championship firmly under most people’s radar, the Banner’s spectacular rising star over the past month also inevitably heightened the expectation levels that Brian Lohan’s men certainly matched if not surpassed in a sensational Shannonside derby in Cusack Park.

“We are happy enough,” began Lohan afterwards. “With a big crowd in Ennis, there was a little bit of expectation from our own supporters who came in their droves to support the team and we were probably under a little bit of pressure to make sure that we didn’t disappoint them. I am happy enough that we performed to a reasonable level.

“This place hasn’t been packed for a while and there hasn’t been as big a demand for tickets in a while. And when you have that level of expectation you want to perform for the county.

“It was important for us to back up that expectation and for the players to put on that level of performance for themselves but also for the Clare followers that came today”.

The festival atmosphere around the grounds and town was accentuated by the right result as both teams were ultimately satisfied with a point apiece and more significantly a rematch in the Munster Final on Sunday, June 5.

“I was just looking at the stats inside and they were all very even. We conceded eleven frees each and in terms of possession and turnovers there was very little between the teams.

“It was up and down, we were ahead, they came back, they went ahead and we went back in front.

“Limerick always bring a great intensity, they are so physical and so committed to the breaking ball. They are such powerful men and when you’re hit, you stay hit so you need a lot of conditioning to be able to handle that kind of intensity.

“Being in Ennis was an advantage to us too today and we are not going to have that against them anymore.”

“But look the spirit of the players is good, there is a great bunch here, they work very hard and I am just happy that they are getting some element of reward. If you consider being in the Munster final a reward for the work we have done so far, it’s good that we have got there with a game to spare.”

In light of preparing for that provincial decider, how best to approach the Waterford group match quickly came into sharp focus at the final whistle.

“To be honest, I haven’t really thought about next week’s game yet. We had put everything into this as we had done for each one of the games so far.

“We obviously got a few knocks today so we’ll review it during the week and see how we’re fixed with injuries etc.”