Conlon – The Banner talisman

Even if John Conlon hadn’t zipped over three stirring second half points, the Clonlara man of steel would still have been a legitimate contender for man of the match. Twice inside the opening 20 minutes, Conlon won frees that were then pointed by the ice cool Colin Ryan. He also won the puck out and placed Darach Honan, whose deflected shot won a ’65, pointed by the Newmarket free taker.

Five minutes before half time Conlon, placed by Seán Collins, won another pointed free, after Eamon Glynn had affected an inspirational clearance from right corner-back.
All evidence that long before John Conlon lofted over the first of his three points from play, he had played a role in creating four of Clare’s nine scores.
Eight minutes into the second period, a protracted scramble about 50 yards from the Kilkenny goals ended when Conlon emerged from the ruck to fire Clare level at 0-9 each.
Nine minutes from time he lofted over an inspirational point from the left wing to tie the score at 0-12 each. It took its time landing but, when it did, the score sent a tremor through Croke Park.
“I actually miss-hit it, I think,” the centre-forward told The Clare Champion. “I didn’t connect with it right anyway. Thank God it just popped over!”
Six minutes from full time, Conlon finished a move, started by Ciarán O’Doherty, to complete his three-point tally. Fifteen minutes later thousands of Clare supporters had stormed the citadel. Looking across Croke Park from his Hogan Stand perch, as Ciaran O’Doherty received the championship trophy, Conlon couldn’t believe the size of the Clare throng.
“As I said to one of the lads above, I never thought I’d look down and see Clare people out on that field. I’d say there wasn’t a person in Clare left or at least it looked like that. For an U-21 team, it’s fabulous. There’s some buzz around the place at the moment,” he sensed.
It’s often said that the backing of a supportive crowd is worth a couple of scores. Conlon was certain that the crowd drove Clare to heights no U-21 team from this county had ever scaled.
“When we came out on the field, you could feel the energy. When we were coming back there, you could feel they were behind you. Maybe they did push us over the end line. It worked anyway. It drove us all on. You couldn’t hear anyone talking or anything. All you could hear was the crowd and they did push you on. It was one of the best experiences of my life,” he said. 
Glancing around the dressing room, Conlon’s gaze settled on Seán Collins, still trying to remove the strapping from his injured shoulder.
“Seán Collins there coming back from an injury; what a man. And Cormac O’Donovan; what a point at the end,” he recalled.
“I think he was giving everyone a heart attack by hitting it up that high. I’m used to him doing it. I’d be always slagging him about it,” the Clonara colossus laughed.
Although there is a club feel to this Clare team, playing alongside four of his actual club mates, made that All-Ireland winning experience even more memorable for John Conlon. More importantly knowing how Clonara’s Clare men play, has practical benefits.
“I know how Darach plays, I know how Cormac plays. I can feed off them. Nicky, I know the way he bursts out, goes back and hits it up in the air and I’ve made the run already. It’s great for the parish to have six lads on the panel. The place is going mad and hopefully we can bring the cup down next weekend and have a good night.”
If that happens it might signal the high point of a celebratory week. A chance, perhaps, for John Conlon and his Clare colleagues to forget about hurling for a few days.
“I haven’t been doing much during the year with all the hurling. This makes it all the sweeter. It makes it all worthwhile. We can relax now for a few weeks and get back again,” Clare’s inspirational man of the man suggested.