‘Our supporters are our 16th man’

This week’s Clare Champion includes a very special, 16-page souvenir supplement to mark Clare’s success in the All-Ireland Hurling Final. In this supplement we talk to Tony Kelly, Brian Lohan, Shane O’Donnell, John Conlon, Conor Cleary, Cathal Malone, Eibhear Quilligan, Brendan Bugler, Pat O’Donnell, Tommy Corbett, Deirdre Murphy, Davy Fitzgerald and many more. We also have all the colour from before, during and after the game, the excitement from the homecoming events on Monday night and a souvenir team poster. This collector’s item is in the shops now.
Below, Derek Dormer chats to Clare goalkeeper, Eibhear Quilligan.

The man who dons the number one jersey for the Banner Eibhear Quilligan is soaking in the atmosphere in the Fairgreen and feels all the hard work and sacrifice it has taken to get here was definitely worth it. The moment referee Johnny Murphy blew his full time whistle is one that will stay with the Feakle native for the rest of his days.
“The feeling at the final whistle was so special, magical even and one I’ll never forget. To see the joy on everyone’s face young and old is truly inspiring and to win something for those magnificent Clare supporters is the best feeling in the world. Support from the people of Clare has always been magnificent and they’re truly like a sixteenth man. Hearing them shout Clare Clare definitely helped to drag us over the line on Sunday.”
The former LIT student is overwhelmed by the crowd in the Fairgreen and wants to savour every moment of this brilliant occasion.
“As the bus pulled in we had been told there was a large crowd waiting for us but to actually see them and all the flags flying is just wonderful. The noise is incredible and I can hardly hear myself speak. You can see what it means to all the people here tonight and this is an atmosphere and a feeling I want to take in and keep with me forever.”
Playing in goals is never easy and any mistake made can have devastating ramifications so how does the 2011 Munster Minor winner cope with the pressure?
“I just always wanted to be a goalkeeper and it has taken an awful amount of hard work to get here. I think I only ever played one match outfield so it’s always been about trying to stop goals for me rather than scoring them. As you get older you get more resilient. That word has been branded around about this team and this group over the last twenty four hours and you just have to be.
“You have to be mentally strong. In goal any mistake is going to be costly and you’re going to get mistakes. It’s the nature of the position so you have to have a next ball mentality. If you dwell on what just happened you won’t be able to deal with that next ball or that next situation when it arises.”
Pure elation is how Eibhear describes the final whistle.
“When Johnny blew that whistle it was pure elation. In the week building up to the game you’re concentrating on the 70 plus minutes that awaits you and in this case it was 90 plus minutes. You try not to let yourself think about what might happen or what this tonight here in Ennis would feel like if you win.
“You’re so tuned into what you have to do that when the whistle does blow it’s like a huge release of energy.”
That feeling of elation will stay with the Feakle native for the rest of his days and he wouldn’t mind if time had frozen there and then.
“That hour or two after the game you just want to pause time there forever and if you could live in that moment you’d die a happy man.”
On the semi-final performance and those crucial saves Quilligan feels he was just doing his job.
“Honestly I was just doing my job. You can’t be thinking about a save you just made. Similar to if it was a mistake you made you just have to focus on that next ball. That’s what goalkeeping is all about really and that’s the mental side of the game. It’s about putting everything to one side and focusing on what’s next.”
Beaming from ear to ear Eibhear is so proud to represent his County and of course his club Feakle.
“I love the club and the parish of Feakle. They are fantastic people and they turn themselves out with some pride.
“To have Up for the match on Saturday evening there was really magical for the community and to just drive through and see all the colours would fill your heart. That’s where it all began, that’s where you learned how to play the game and that’s where you developed a love for it.
“All those volunteers, all the people giving their time coaching children are special and this win is for all of them. It’s what this great organisation is about and representing all those Feakle people and all the Clare people all over the world fills you with pride.”