Players ‘prepared to die for each other’

AT first glance, the classic 1941 Western film, They Died With Their Boots On, doesn’t have anything in common with Clonlara’s Junior B hurlers.

AT first glance, the classic 1941 Western film, They Died With Their Boots On, doesn’t have anything in common with Clonlara’s Junior B hurlers.
The film tells the story of General Custer from the time he enters West Point military academy, through the American Civil War and finally to his death at Little Big Horn. The central message in the film is the importance of fighting to the bitter end, even when the cause looks a hopeless one. A person who dies with their boots on keeps working to the end and never quits.
That’s the link with the Clonlara hurlers. Four points ahead at the end of normal time, Kilkenny champions, Conahy Shamrocks looked to be cruising to their first All-Ireland Junior B Hurling Championship crown.
However, Clonlara’s dogged resistance and refusal to throw in the towel reaped rich dividends when they hit back to register 1-2 in injury time to salvage a well-deserved draw.
Clonlara manager, Jim Gully, who previously guided the club to Clare and Munster intermediate success, as well as a coveted Clare senior hurling crown, paid tribute to his side’s indomitable spirit.
“Clonlara’s players were prepared to die for each other out there on the pitch. They didn’t want to let anyone down. I am delighted for all the players because I felt we deserved the draw.
“This was a huge day for the club and the players. An All-Ireland final is always going to be a battle and that’s the way things turned out. I never once doubted the spirit and character of the players. Once we got the goal, I knew we were not going to lose the game.”
While Conahy Shamrocks appeared to be the more likely winners for periods in the game, Gully argued the Clare champions finished the strong side, particularly in the last 10 minutes when they got on top.
In fact, he believes the Kilkenny kingpins were visibly rattled when William Slattery grabbed Clonlara’s goal before the finish.
Asked if he felt the odds were against a Clonlara victory because of injuries, emigration and the suspension of Alan O’Connell, he said the management team asked the players to step up to the plate for an All-Ireland final, which they well and truly did on the day. He was not overly concerned when Clonlara entered the interval a point in arrears, despite playing with a strong breeze.
“The wind never wins a game for any team. I think a team can find it hard to get space playing with the wind. When you are playing against the wind, half-forwards and midfielders tend to drop back, leading to a very congested defence and more space up front. I thought Conahy’s goal came out of nothing. We normally don’t concede goals. Credit to the lads, they never gave up. The game is never over until the final whistle,” he said.
Conahy Shamrocks manager, Peter Mulhall admitted he was “happy with the performance but not the result”.
“Fair dues to Clonlara, they dug deep and battled for a draw. I thought their goal was a soft one and the sliotar could have been cleared. Our goal was soft as well, so I suppose these things balance out.
“A four-point lead is very little in hurling, which can change in a minute. We have plenty to work on for the next day,” he said.
Conahy Shamrocks wing-back, Paddy Mullan was presented with the man of the match award, which was selected by representatives of Killeedy GAA Club.
However, Clonlara’s William Slattery, who finished with 1-4, was a strong contentor for the title. While Paddy Mullan played exceptionally well, the Kilkenny champions would have definitely triumphed if Slattery hadn’t displayed such clinical finishing.