The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Despite racing into what appeared to be a decisive six-point lead in the second-half, Clare were overhauled by a resurgent Rebel outfit, who snatched victory with late points from Ben and Jerry O’Connor, triumphing on a 0-15 to 0-14 scoreline.
You could hear a pin drop as the former Clare captain and centre-back recalled the great highs and lows of his 12-year inter-county hurling career to GAA supporters in the GAA Museum in Croke Park when he conducted the recent Legends Tour Series.
The two-time All-Ireland winner and three-time All Star engaged in friendly banter with GAA Museum guide Julianne McKeigue from Tullamore on a tour of Croke Park on the eve of the Clare versus Limerick All-Ireland semi-final.
He told Clare supporters in the audience that while 1998 was a missed opportunity, the 2005 All-Ireland semi-final defeat was his personal biggest disappointment.
“I would always feel there are games you win that you shouldn’t win and there are games you lose you shouldn’t lose. Clare were six points up with about 20 minutes to go. Cork got a run on us at the right time. Clare were a point up with a minute or two to go and Cork got two late points to win the game.
“What really made it disappointing was that Galway beat Kilkenny in the other semi-final. I genuinely felt if Clare had beaten Cork, they would have definitely beaten Galway in the All-Ireland that year. That’s just my own personal views. I felt Clare were the best team in ’98 and Clare should have won that All-Ireland,” he
said.
McMahon acknowledged Clare could have easily lost the 1995 All-Ireland final, as they benefitted from the lucky break of the ball that came off the crossbar and bounced in front of substitute Eamonn Taffee, who finished it well for a well-taken goal.
In the 1997 All-Ireland final, he recalled that Clare would have lost if John Leahy’s bid for a late goal wasn’t denied by a very good save from Davy Fitzgerald.
He was also disappointed about Clare’s defeat against Tipperary in 2001, when there was no backdoor.
While Clare may not have won the Liam McCarthy Cup that year, McMahon believes the team were on the cusp of becoming a major force again and the following year they reached the All-Ireland final, only to be beaten by Kilkenny.
The Doora-Barefield stalwart made his senior debut for Clare in 1994 and enjoyed a glittering career for the next 12 years. The free-scoring centre-back had many inspired days on the hurling pitch, none more so than in the 1995 Munster semi-final against Cork, when he played on after breaking his collarbone during the game.
Clare won that day and went on to win an historic All-Ireland title in September. McMahon was named Texaco Hurler of the Year. There was more All-Ireland success for him and his Clare teammates in 1997.
Throughout his playing career, McMahon gained the respect of hurling fans everywhere with his battling performances and his remarkable ability to find scores from his defensive berth. In total, he scored 97 points in 51 games. This is an impressive tally for any hurler but a remarkable one for a defender.
At club level, he enjoyed some success at underage level, before finally winning a senior county championship in 1998. Provincial success followed and on St Patrick’s Day in 1999, McMahon won a coveted All-Ireland Club Championship medal as St Joseph’s defeated Rathnure. He won a second county and provincial club championship title in 1999 and a third county title in 2001.
In his book, Raising the Banner, legendary Clare hurling manager Ger Loughnane said of McMahon, “There are men, then there are men, then there’s Seán McMahon”.
McMahon recalled if Clare had lost to Cork in the 1995 Munster semi-final, their subsequent success would never have happened and could have been derailed before it even started.
“It was a huge game for Clare. Things went against us. The last few minutes were so topsy-turvy. Clare went a few points up, the game was heading into injury time when Cork went down the field and got a goal.
“Fergie Touhy took a sideline cut. Fergie never took a line ball in his whole life and he certainly never took it as good as that. He sent the sliothar into the square and Ollie Baker scored the goal. Straight down the field, Alan Browne had a shot come off the post to draw it. Clare were only a point up at the time.
“The ball bounced into Kevin Murray’s hand, who was very close to the goals and Frank Lohan came back and flicked the ball away, before the referee blew the final whistle on the spot,” McMahon said.
Describing the narrow victory as a huge psychological boost and a turning point for the Clare team, he felt it was a game Clare would have lost in previous years.
He recalled Clare were really “gunning” for Limerick in ’95, after they hammered the Bannermen in the final the previous year.
McMahon described the 1995 Munster final victory as his greatest day, as growing up he never dreamed he would get the opportunity of playing for Clare in Croke Park as the Bannermen had lost so many provincial deciders since 1932.
“The 1995 Munster final will always be my favourite day. There was huge joy and relief after the Munster final and huge excitement going up to take on Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Clare started training for ’95 in September 1994. Mike McNamara put Clare through tough physical training and they enjoyed a good league campaign, only to be well beaten by Kilkenny in the decider,” he said.
McMahon will be hoping to turn the tables on Cork by emerging victorious in the All-Ireland final on Sunday.
