Former coach to the Clare Senior set up and in his fourth year training his beloved Truagh-Clonlara Ryan Morris feels like he’s dreaming but admits this was their ultimate objective.
” I feel like I’m in a dream that I don’t want to wake up from. To see how far we’ve come from winning an Intermediate title to claiming a first ever McMahon Cup, going back to back and now a Munster final. It’s magical, it truly is. Last year we enjoyed celebrating after the County championship and the buzz around the place was incredible. The whole day out against Sarsfields was also really special but in truth we let the day be our focus and not the game itself. It wasn’t until we sat down to plan for this year that we felt the pain of that defeat. We set in motion a plan to retain our crown and have another crack at Munster but to do so we had to get out of Clare and that was never going to be easy.”
After sailing through the group stages they squared off in a titanic semi final battle with Scariff-Ogonolloe that required extra time and then had to take on a much vaunted Inagh-Kilnamona team in the final, two games the former University of Limerick student feels readied them for what was coming next.
” We enjoyed celebrating for a few days after the County final but unlike last year a Munster title was our goal. We felt battle hardened after the knockout stages in Clare and myself and Bob (manager Bob Caulfield) knew the girls would take the learnings from the Sarsfields experience a year ago. Experience counts for quite alot really. I mean ten mins decided it then and it decided it out there today. It’s a great way to win when you’ve to battle all the way and I honestly feel we deserved it for our work rate. These girls just never know when they are beaten. They have matured as a group over my four years involved and they never panic. It’s just a case of sticking to the game plan, trusting in the process and believing we will come out on top.”
Ryan says that although there is no real time for preparations and little time to enjoy a build up that it might not be a bad thing.
” These next few days will be about total rest and recovery but also we have to go and enjoy tonight. In sport you never know what’s next and to be honest at this elite level you don’t know when if ever you’ll be here again. Our motto will be to get the bodies rested, get the minds focused which won’t be difficult as they are a remarkably driven bunch of girls. They fully understand and appreciate what representing Clonlara and the County means. The whole place will be buzzing for the week. The flags and banners are out. We are ready to go and win and the people of Clon are smiling. Sure there’s nothing more one could want in life. Well becoming the best team in Munster would sweeten it up alright and we now have that opportunity” he finishes with a huge smile.