Clear road ahead for Clare footballers as Rebels loom

Eoin Cleary tells Ivan Smyth Clare are keen to kick on in 2022, beginning with the McGrath Cup

LAST year, Eoin Cleary became the first man from St Joseph’s Miltown to be shortlisted for an All Star as he followed in the footsteps of Gary Brennan and Jamie Malone who received nominations in 2016 and 2019 respectively.

The 27-year-old is quick to spread the praise for his performances after a 2021 campaign in which he scored 0-35 across Clare’s five games last year.

A memorable point from a sideline ball which he shot in to the town goal in Cusack Park against Laois highlighted Cleary’s form.

Before Brennan in 2016, Clare had last received nominations in 1997 when Frankie Griffin and Martin Daly were nominated. Cleary believes the recent All-Star nominations show the talent that exists within the county.

“It was very nice for my family, my club (Miltown) and for the county. Gary got one (an All Star nomination) in 2019 and Jamie did it in 2019. It is all exposure for Clare football. We want to show the young guys that they can get accolades. It is something that they can achieve.”

“Up to the late ‘90s we hadn’t got one (a nomination) but since Colm Collins has come in we’ve had three. It shows the great work being done at underage and it’s something achievable to lads coming up. I wouldn’t have got nominated without my teammates or coaches so I’m grateful to them.”

Collins’ return to the helm for a ninth season in charge has been welcomed by Cleary. He believes that Collins, who qualifies as the longest-serving football manager of the same county now that Mickey Harte has embraced life after Tyrone by taking charge of Louth, has been instrumental in developing a generation of Clare footballers.

“Colm has done an unbelievable job altogether. He has developed new guys from different clubs so not only are they developing with us but they are improving their own clubs too. In the last number of years there has been great work at underage so now is the time to bear fruit.”

Although each county will be guaranteed a minimum of two Championship games this year with the pandemic hopefully not interrupting the GAA calendar for the third year running, Cleary insists that Proposal B, which would have been run in a league format with each county guaranteed a minimum of seven games, is a better system for the modern inter county player.

After an encouraging league campaign, Clare travelled to Fitzgerald Stadium in the Munster Championship with Kerry securing an emphatic 3-22 to 1-11 win. This saw Collins’ side exit the Championship with Cleary believing that Proposal B is much fairer for players and managers alike.

“Players want more games. We got one Championship game and that was it. I understand with Covid the format was changed to knockout but in other years you might only get two games.
If you look at it, giving players more games encourages them to stay playing and keeps them in the country. That only helps the economy and the local areas. We hope Proposal B gets through eventually and that we can give players what they want.”

The Garda has enjoyed a short period away from the demands of Gaelic football after St Joseph’s Miltown were beaten by St Breckan’s in the Championship quarter final. Cleary insists that the race for the Jack Daly Cup is becoming tighter than ever with hard work at underage helping clubs catch up to those at the front of the pack.

“It was a very competitive Championship last year. In previous years there may only be three of four teams in with a shout. The net has spread and you are seeing the hard work that the clubs have been putting in. Éire Óg winning it after a few years shows that more clubs believe they can win the Jack Daly Cup now.”

“We see St Breckan’s and Lissycasey getting consistent results while there are a lot of different clubs who are trying to establish themselves as contenders. Ennistymon and St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield have been doing great at underage so no doubt we will see those sides push on.

“It’s great seeing the club scene go from strength to strength and more teams chasing top honours.”

“If you look at Éire Óg’s squad there is no question of the talent that they possess. They are the team to beat. They have set a high standard so it’s up to us and to the other clubs to catch them. When you are at the top everyone will try to knock you off your perch. That’s the circle of club and county football.”

The 27-year-old is hopeful that the large squad of players assembled by Collins and his management team can show their potential in the McGrath Cup.

“Colm gave us a good break before we refocused on the McGrath Cup. The lads are very fresh and in great shape. Something I noticed during Covid is that everyone has become more fitness focused.

“With the set-up we have, everyone knows what they need to do so it’s up to us to look after ourselves. In the last 10 to 15 years players cross the country may have struggled to be back to peak fitness at this time of year. In our set-up we have 40 plus lads who have the right mindset.”

With both Clare and Cork set to blood new players, this game will not define either side’s year but both know that starting the year with a win will only boost confidence. Cork football makes another fresh start this weekend as new manager Keith Ricken’s reign begins.

Instead of focusing on the Rebels, Cleary insists that Clare are ready to play after their game with Waterford was postponed last weekend.

“Guys are chomping at the bit to play. Every game that you play you go out to win it. It’s a home game for us so we want to get the year off on the right foot. It’s great that the game is in Miltown. We have great local support so hopefully we can produce a performance against Cork.”

Last year’s league campaign ended in disappointment as Clare came up short in their search for promotion to Division One. Despite a battling second half display, they succumbed to a 2-22 to 2-18 defeat to Mayo in the league semi finals.

With the league returning to the old format of eight teams in each division, Clare will have more opportunities to get points on the board. The top two sides after seven group games will secure promotion while the bottom pair will be demoted to Division Three.

Despite a greater margin for error, the Limerick-based Garda insists that his side cannot afford to lose concentration during the league campaign.

“I know it’s a cliché but we need to take every game as it comes. We have seven games this year but we know the margins will be tight like last year. We have Offaly up first who are one of the most talented young sides in the country and they have a great manager in John Maughan.”

“Last year our goal was to get up to Division One and we didn’t hit that. Our first half performance went against us but in the second half we showed we could compete with the top sides. To come up short was disappointing and then the Championship game didn’t go our way either. We did give a lot of guys game time so hopefully that helps us this year.”

After falling short the past two years at the first hurdle in Munster, Cleary knows how important a provincial run would be for Clare. With Kerry and Cork facing off on the other side of the draw, there is an opportunity for Clare, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary to gain momentum and reach a Munster final.

“With the Munster Championship the aim for any team is to get to the final. In 2020 Tipperary showed that it can be done. You could nearly go back to ’92 (Clare winning the Munster Championship), for a run like theirs. The teams are very close together so it will be fine margins that decides games in Munster.”

The past two years has seen the GAA Calendar torn asunder due to the pandemic. Although the country is currently facing strict restrictions, the hope for players and supporters alike is that we can experience a year of games without interruption. The St Joseph’s Miltown man states that restrictions and tighter regulations can lead to greater headaches for people in GAA circles.

“Covid gives you more things to think about. For example do you need to travel on your own to a game? You have to be careful at all times so it is always there. Over the last two years we have become used to following the regulations but it does give you something to think about.

“It depends on the state of the country later in the year but you would hope that we would get out of the current situation in the next month or two.

“We all hope that we can get back to normality soon and that we can have crowds at games throughout the year.”