Clare learning from mistakes – McMahon

Martin McMahon was still feeling the odd twinge and strain on Monday, following Clare’s one-point win over Limerick. The Kilmurry Ibrickane club man was one of Clare’s outstanding performers, repeatedly putting himself on the line for the county. The bangs and bruises would have felt more tender if Clare hadn’t won and re-ignited their league campaign.

“I’ve a few marks alright on the nose and along the back. These things happen,” he reflected. McMahon believes the key to Clare’s win was their dwelling on the reasons behind their defeat to Fermanagh in Enniskilleen.
“We’ve been doing stupid things for so long, it was about time that we won a tight game. At the start of the league we weren’t learning from our mistakes but finally yesterday we copped on a bit. I think we learned from the Fermanagh game. We decided yesterday that we’d slow it down and go back to what we know and hitting the people we need to hit with ball,” the Dublin-based schoolteacher said.
“We talked about it after the Fermanagh game, how when we were on top we didn’t really drive on and then when they were on top, everyone seemed to shy away from it and let them walk through us. I think yesterday it showed when they got two points in-a-row, even Joe (Hayes) in goals slowed it down. Everyone got into their positions; the half-forwards and full-forward line made sure they gave a line of options. I think in the Fermanagh game they were coming back and then when we looked up, there was nothing there for us. So yesterday we said we had to hold our shape. Thanks be to God we’re learning from our mistakes but it’s about time we started doing that,” McMahon reflected.
After their warm-down, the panel and management talked about immediately focusing on their trip to Carlow on Sunday.
“If we’d lost yesterday, that was our league gone. That would have been pretty much season over for the league. So at least now there’s still an interest. Another good thing after the game was the minute we finished, we said that game is done with. Monday night we’re back at it again, everyone is doing their own gym and then Tuesday night we’re back training again and we’re thinking about the Carlow game. There’s no point winning in Ennis, having a great win over Limerick and then going up to Carlow and losing. Hopefully, we can get a win over Carlow and then think about the next game after that,” he added.
The Kilmurry Ibrickane man is one of five players who drive weekly to Limerick for training. “We train in Limerick on Tuesday nights so myself, Shane McGrath, Shane Brennan, Niall Browne and Thomas Donnellan travel down and we’re down again for the weekend,” he said.
Until recent weeks, Clare were training regularly on the new AstroTurf pitch at UL but they have since moved venue to train on a grass pitch. “In the last two weeks, even though the lights might not be as good, we moved it to LIT so  we can train on a proper pitch. At least in Limerick it’s breaking the journey. You’d do it in two and a bit hours,” McMahon reflected.
With an eye on Sunday and an impending Munster semi-final meeting with Waterford or Limerick, McMahon feels Clare must focus on one aspect of their preparation. “We know we’re not a bad team but the problem is Clare need to have their attitude right. The last day everyone could see that our attitude was right. The main aim at the end of the year is to get to a Munster final. We need to keep winning games and hopefully that’ll lead onto better things for us,” McMahon concluded.
Meanwhile, Clare manager Micheál McDermott said the side were highly motivated prior to playing Limerick.
“When you read in the programme that it’s 30 years since Clare beat Limerick in the national league, that was a huge motivating factor going out there today. Because we’re in Division 4 and because we haven’t been promoted, I don’t think they get the respect outside the county or probably in the county that they deserve. They put in a huge effort and I’m delighted with the result today. But the biggest game of the year now is next Sunday and that’s the way the league is. Carlow beat us up there last year. They won’t respect us either,” the Clare manager predicted.
He acknowledged Clare’s display wasn’t a perfect innings. “We got a win today but we wouldn’t have been happy with our performance. The positive side is the players aren’t happy with their performance. They know they have to improve on that performance for next Sunday.”
Clare selector Liam McHale said he was delighted with Clare’s fortitude, even though they looked a bit unsure in the opening half. “I’d say they were nervous. This was a big game for them and this is still predominantly a young team. I’m very happy that they knuckled down and dug in,” the Mayo man stated.