The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
“This was a big, big stepping stone for us as a management team and as a panel to get to an All-Ireland semi-final and to take a big scalp like Galway. I think you saw the mental reserve and the steel that’s in these young lads. Today was a chance for them to open up. This performance was coming all year and it needed to come today,” selector Louis Mulqueen told The Clare Champion after the match.
His management colleague Paul Kinnerk was ecstatic in the immediate aftermath of a breakthrough victory.
“This is what you do it for. There’s no better feeling than that 15 minutes after winning a big game. I haven’t come across anything like it before this. It was a huge breakthrough for us today to beat a top team in a knockout game with everything at stake. It’s new ground for this team,” the Limerick man, who teaches in St Caimin’s, Shannon, acknowledged.
Both goals conceded by Clare were soft, although the response was composed and resolute. In the face of possible game altering adversity, they didn’t panic.
“In hurling terms they were probably two goals of a soft nature that caught us. They came at times that gave Galway momentum. But we stood our ground after that. Not to crumble at that stage was crucial for us. We were in charge at half time and we were in charge at the end of the game. That’s testament to the ability that’s in this team,” Mulqueen suggested.
Paul Kinnerk acknowledged the goals should have been avoided but he was delighted that Clare didn’t buckle.
“Mistakes will happen. We made two mistakes and we got punished for them. But now we’re through it, the fact that we responded in the manner that we did is character building. It’s great to have that in reserve for the days ahead,” he reflected.
Tactically, Clare completely flummoxed Galway. Conor Ryan played at centre-back while Pat Donnellan doubled up in front of Joe Canning. Galway were very naïve in that they rained repeated high balls on top of Canning, allowing Donnellan to sweep in front of Cian Dillon.
“If tactics work they’re brilliant and if they don’t, everyone is out to get you,” Mulqueen said of Clare’s tactical approach.
“Today we had to pay special attention to Joe Canning in particular and cut off the supply. We went with that format so that we would keep in the game. Then we got into our own rhythm and that’s where the performance came from,” he maintained.
Podge Collins’ ceaseless work rate set the tone for Clare, who were hungrier, fitter and far more driven than Galway, a shadow of the team that excelled in the 2012 All-Ireland series.
“Podge is having a super year. He’s a great a young lad with great work rate. There was an ethic of work about us today. There was a calmness and a maturity that I like to see.
“We also didn’t have so many wides. We did give away a few simple frees and scores but we stood our ground and kept the head. We’ve a Munster U-21 final coming up as well. It’s a great position for Clare hurling. It’s what we’re trying to do in Davy Fitz’s era, bring Clare back to these good days,” the Rice College principal said.
Paul Kinnerk said Clare’s minimum target was to reach the quarter-final and take it from there.
“When the draw was made five or six weeks ago, we looked at Laois and Wexford and we knew they were winnable. In my own head, now that we’ve come through it, it was always going to be about July 28. If we didn’t get to that date, we might as well have thrown our hat at it. Thank God they did it out there today. It wasn’t down to any single performance. You couldn’t pick a weak link,” he noted.
The Limerick senior footballer will be facing his own county in Croke Park on August 18. He’s not fazed though. Clare are in the zone.
“It doesn’t matter who we met. It’s just brilliant to be in the semi-final,” the Clare coach smiled.
