‘Bridge’s consistent Shan of the Match

As Jamie Shanahan prepares to lead Sixmilebridge behind the Tulla Pipe Band today (Sunday), it’s not the fact that he’s lining out for his eighth senior decider that’s surprising but the fact that he has achieved that remarkable feat by the mere age of 30.
Clare’s last three year county minor and just as significantly the last Sixmilebridge underage player to blossom onto the inter-county senior championship stage, Shanahan is unquestionably the most talented player of his generation albeit that injuries have dogged his adult career.
“To be honest, I’ve probably missed the bones of two or three years if you add them all up between back surgeries, a shoulder injury when I was 18 and then missing all of last year with an ankle injury.
“It is frustrating but just part and parcel of sport. I mean last year I didn’t puck a ball and I won’t say it’s something you get over because it’s not, it’s extremely frustrating as you’re dealing with the injury on your own. But days like the semi-final and looking forward to marching behind the band at a county final, things like that make all the long days of recovery worth it.
“You quickly forget about the bad days when great things like this happen.”
However, considering the extent of those long-term injuries, was there ever the danger that you wouldn’t be able to play anymore?
“Of course. I got another injection a couple of years ago in my back when I was only 27 and even then I was wondering was it all it worth it as I was really struggling just to get in and out of the car. “The way I look at it though is that it could be a lot worse. At the moment I’m injury-free and am eager to play as long as I can because there is good players emerging onto the squad at the moment and another good crop coming so I just was to make hay while it’s all going well.
“I’ll worry about the longer term effect when I’m older.
“On the other hand I must say too that I’ve been very lucky to have played in seven finals and looking forward to an eighth as not many people can say that. Keeping going as long as I can is the plan but now especially after missing last year, I can only look at it game by game and I definitely appreciate everything more.”
Indeed, it’s no coincidence that when Jamie Shanahan is fit, Sixmilebridge invariably are at their best too, evidenced by the fact that he has played in all seven finals (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and replay, 2019 and 2020).
“I can still remember the 2011 final as if it was yesterday so that just goes to show how quick it all goes by. And yet I definitely appreciate it more this time around.
“Our first title was in 2013 and it was special. We had won a good bit at underage so 2013 was the justification of it all. In a three year period from Seadna [Morey] and Alan Mul [Mulready] down to Alex {Morey] and Conor Deasy, I think something like eight players had made the breakthrough by 2013.
“If you look at the team-sheet today, the majority of them are still there either starting or coming on. So it’s the same core group I suppose that won underage together and are still going strong to this day.”
So what is the secret behind all this longevity?
“It has been embedded in us because we started so young together that you do go in every year expecting to be there-or-thereabouts. I don’t think there’s any point going in thinking otherwise.
“Last year we had a few very poor performances but every year is different and we had a new set-up coming in along with a few younger legs and that gave us older lads a big boost.
“We have also been learning a new game-plan as well as club hurling is every-evolving not just at inter-county level and actually we’re learning as much off the younger lads in terms of game-plan which is brilliant to see.
“I think overall I’m lucky to be part of such a great and determined collective that just go out to win every game and also go out to win the championship every year.
“It’s also a huge honour to captain this club. You look at a book or a photo and see the names that have gone before you and you’re thinking that it’s a privilege to play for the club, not to mind captain it.”
That innate modesty is a predominant thread throughout the twenty minute chat, even when reflecting on a 150 minute semi-final epic against Inagh-Kilnamona last time out that was clinched by a winning penalty by the captain.
“Look it was uncharted territory for everyone. We were even saying it when the five of us taking the penalties were huddled together before it started, to just take it one penalty at a time. You could see that Derek [Fahy] was loving it. He had been waiting for a moment like that for a long time and by god did he shine.
“I mean the goalies were brilliant, not just in saving them but their penalties were the best ones. Look it could have gone either way and while it’s good for spectators, I personally don’t agree with it and I said that directly after the game.
“It’s not a nice way to go out after putting so much into the championship.”
Whatever the manner, Shanahan and Co. are now preparing for yet another final and against a brand new opponent too in Feakle.
“I was only thinking about it today that we’ve played seven different teams in finals so that just goes to show how competitive the Clare championship is.
“Feakle are there on merit though as they’ve had a fantastic year. When assessing them, their size obviously is the main one but people talk about the gap since the last final but they have been winning titles. They won a Clare Cup a few years ago and Under 21A’s in 2017 and last year again so if you look at that, they’ve got very recent experience and know exactly how each other play. It will be dog-eat-dog, I’ve no doubt about it as both teams are very very proud.
“It will be 50/50 on the day and will go right down to the wire guaranteed.
“It’s funny I probably would be more nervous now whereas back then you’re freer and just go with the flow. Now you’ve a lot more responsibilities, maybe trying to help the younger lads ignore the noise in the leading up to a county final and to keep everything in camp and hopefully produce a performance on the day as you never know when it will be your last county final.”
His father James, an inspirational Clare hurler himself and captain in 1988, ended up helping Broadford beat the ‘Bridge in the 1997 Intermediate decider in Cusack Park at the tender age of 43.
Just another 13 years for Jamie to emulate then.