Road to recovery leads to Thurles for Captain Conlon

Clare will be looking to build upon their recent momentum when they face Waterford in the Munster SHC this Sunday at Semple Stadium (throw-in 3.15pm). Munster Championship games are notoriously full blooded and intense with this Sunday’s battle expected to be no different as Clare come up against last year’s All-Ireland finalists.
John Conlon will certainly be relishing this weekend’s battle as he looks set to taste Championship action for the first time since 2019, due to a cruciate ligament injury that kept him on the sidelines for Clare’s run to the All-Ireland quarter final in 2020.
The Clonlara man believes the injury was a “blessing in disguise” as he was able to rehab other knocks and learn more about looking after his own body.
“It was a tough injury. I was over a year out with it. It was a blessing in disguise in ways. It gave me the opportunity to grow and work on other injuries. I did a course on Strength and Conditioning with Setanta College, and it was a big help. I researched a lot and the physios were a big help to me too. Now I feel I’m back in the best shape possible.”
“For a year or two I struggled with different injuries and niggles.
“Sometimes it used to be a case of getting over training but now I’m able to thrive and go at it one hundred per cent. I suppose I’m cuter in what I’ve to do too. If I ever needed to sit out a session, Brian (Lohan) and the lads would understand.”
As someone who has now played in both the back and forward divisions with Clare, Conlan is the ideal person to analyse whether it is too easy for the modern day player to score or whether the reaction to teams racking up huge scores in the league has been over the top.
Conlon believes the lack of crowds at games has made it easier for players to communicate with each other and create scoring opportunities while he also credits modern training methods for allowing players to replicate in game scenarios.
“My view is when you have games behind closed doors you can get bigger scores. There are challenge matches that can often end in cricket scores for both sides. With no background noise during the league, it makes communication easier for players.”
“Training for teams nowadays is more about game based scenarios so when players get on to the field, they are more likely to be able to deal with pressure. I’d wait and hold on until crowds come back and see what the scoring rate is like when the Championship is done.”
Clare enjoyed an encouraging end to their league campaign culminating in a final round victory against reigning Leinster champions Kilkenny. However, Conlon is adamant that league results will count for little in the white heat of Championship.
“All that matters for us as a group is June 27. It was nice to end the league well but we know that we face an excellent Waterford team next.”
With Waterford entering the game as favourites, Conlon is aware Clare will face a tough task in Thurles when they come up against last year’s Munster and All-Ireland finalists.
“They (Waterford) are big favourites and rightly so. They got to the All-Ireland final last year, so we know we are up against a top side. Liam Cahill has come in and got a big reaction out of them. They are extremely fit and have a high work rate, so we are aware of the big challenge we face.”
With Conlon expected to line out at centre back, he expects to come up against a Waterford team hungry for goals. Liam Cahill’s charges have found the back of the net in all their five league games thus far.
Waterford have struck five majors in their last two games as they hit three past Galway while firing a brace past Tipperary’s defence. The Clonlara man believes Waterford are arguably the most potent side in front of goal.
“They love going for goals. They are probably the best in Ireland at it. They like to take a chance and go for the three pointer.
“They are goal hungry so we have to be on our toes and aware that they can try for goal at any time.”
The centre back knows that Clare must match the energy that Waterford will bring to this encounter especially with last year’s defeat to this Sunday’s opponents fresh in their minds.
“We know first and foremost we have to match their work rate. As a group we have to build on our performances in the league. We have to be smart on the ball while bringing that intensity and workrate. We have to bring our A game as they were unlucky not to win the Munster final last year so we need a big display to have any chance of winning.”

by Ivan Smyth