O’Connor puts in the miles for Clare

Cathal O’Connor hasn’t pulled on a Clare jersey since their one point, All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Down in July 2011. The Coolmeen man isn’t denying that he has missed being involved.
Employed as a civil engineer with Sisk, O’Connor was based in Scotland last year and is now in Wales. He couldn’t commit in 2012 but even the prospect of an eight-hour journey home hasn’t kept him away this year.
Ironically the travel time from south west Wales exceeds that of his previous base in Scotland. O’Connor is not complaining however. His year-long absence has helped him to realise how much playing for Clare means to him. Extensive journey times won’t keep him away.
“Travelling from Scotland wasn’t too bad but Wales is tougher. I’m about two and a half hours away from the nearest airport. The flight is about an hour and a half and then there’s the travel down from Dublin. There are no flights to Shannon from Bristol. I could get the boat but the crossing is four hours and then you’re only in Rosslare,” he noted, adding that the total journey time can reach eight hours.
He has been at home for the last couple of weeks as the sites are closed in Wales due to the snow. He is due to head back in the coming weeks but in the meantime, O’Connor is focused on playing Waterford and making up for lost time.
“I wasn’t able to do it last year and I missed it. It’s only when you’re gone from it that you realise what you’re missing. It does make you appreciate it more and it makes you realise that you don’t really know when your last game is going to be.
“I’m enjoying it this year. The training is a step up from anything I’ve ever done before. It’s the best I’ve ever worked with. There’s a great set-up,” the Clare midfielder has found.
O’Connor is confident that everyone involved will pick up on Mick O’Dwyer’s infinite footballing knowledge and his love of being involved at inter-county level.
“Micko has been around the block so often but his enthusiasm is still infectious. It’s the same with all of the management. I think all the players are enjoying the training at the moment. Everyone is coming in with a good attitude. We’re just looking forward to getting the league started,” O’Connor said.
Clare have three away fixtures and home games against Waterford, Tipperary, Limerick and London.
“That could make a big difference. Maybe this year we might get bigger crowds in the park and it might give us a bit of an edge in getting over the line. Everyone is just trying to soak up as much of Micko’s wisdom as we can. He is brilliant to have around the place. All four of the management are top notch,” he added.
Cathal O’Connor is joined on the Clare panel by his Dublin based first cousin Shane McGrath, who has established himself as a key forward, since linking up with his parents native county in 2012.
As for Cathal O’Connor, his midfield partnership with Gary Brennan will be pivotal to Clare establishing what they hope will be a successful league campaign. If the Coolmeen/Clondegad combination can garner a liberal supply of possession for the Clare attacking division, departing Division 4 may became a reality.

Clare v Waterford on Sunday at 2.30pm.
Leitrim v Clare, Sunday,
February 10.
Offaly v Clare, Sunday, March 3.
Clare v Tipperary,
Saturday, March 9.
Carlow v Clare, Sunday,
March 24.
Clare v London, Saturday,
March 30.
Clare v Limerick, Sunday, April 7.