Young gun Meehan hoping to make lightning start for Clare

WHEN Shane Meehan answered the phone to The Clare Champion the 19-year-old was almost drowned out by the cheers and excitement of the children hurling behind him.

That morning and afternoon, Meehan was down at his own club, Banner, helping the club run their Easter camp. With over 100 kids attending the camp, hopes are high within Banner that they can continue their recent upward trend across all codes.

The evening prior Meehan and the Clare U-20 hurlers saw their Championship campaign come to an end after falling to an agonising two point against Cork.

For the second game on the spin, Clare let a winning hand slip as Meehan’s final year at the U-20 grade came to a close.

Despite the disappointment, the Mary Immaculate student, headed down to coach the young players coming through the ranks.

When Meehan spoke to The Champion after the camp, he reiterated the point that heading down to his club helped him deal with the disappointment from the evening prior.

“It’s actually the best way to take your mind off the game. They might ask you about the game but once they start playing they forget about what you were doing.”

“I really enjoy coaching. I’ve done a load of it over the Easter break. I was down in Clarecastle too with Cian Galvin so it’s something I enjoy doing.”

The Banner continue to make strides across all codes with players from the club breaking through to inter county panels. Sean MacMahon captains the Clare minor footballers while Kaden Deegan-Herlihy Ronan Kilroy and Mufanna Flynn are all part of the panel.

Meanwhile, Eoin Walsh, Thomas Meenaghan and Niall Walsh are all part of the U-20 football panel.

As Meehan flew the Banner flag with the U-20 hurlers and continues to represent his club on the senior stage, the first year student is keen to show younger players coming through at club level that they too can represent their county.

“It is nice to represent your club. More importantly it might help younger lads to see that they can play for Clare. We have three involved in the U-20 football while Sean McMahon captains the minors. Hopefully we can help to inspire the kids to achieve things and represent Clare.”

In their defeat on Wednesday week, the senior panellist scored a memorable goal as he picked up the breaking ball from a Clare puckout before driving through the heart of the Cork defence.

Despite taking a flick of the hurl from Cork’s Eoin Downey, Meehan rifled an effort to the bottom corner of the net.

Meehan states that although he suffered a bruised elbow after the flick, he came through the game with no problems after a hamstring issue led him to miss out on Clare’s defeat to Limerick.

“Obviously it was very disappointing to lose both especially as I felt we were on top against Cork and Limerick. We are definitely able to compete with those counties. I believe the two teams who beat us are good sides and could have a big say in Munster.

“I didn’t feel the pull on my elbow. I was told that I got a belt but it was only when I watched it back that I realised I did get one. I do have a bruise on the elbow. When you’re in that situation it’s just pure adrenaline.”

Meehan certainly doesn’t lack in talent. He represented Clare in both codes at minor and U-20 level, captaining the minor footballers in 2019.

When he fired over 0-13 in Clare’s defeat to Galway in the 2019 Minor Hurling Championship, it highlighted his obvious talent to a national public. He has decided to focus on the small ball code at inter county level.

Meehan admits that it was a surreal moment making the step up to senior level and sharing the dressing room with players that he would have previously watched.

“It was strange at the start. Even meeting the lads was a bit surreal. It all happened so fast. One minute you are watching them on the TV and the next you are there alongside them. They were all so sound and welcoming.”

The physicality and the time a player gets in possession are the biggest differences between underage and senior inter county hurling, he notes.

“Probably the biggest thing is the size of the lads at senior. They are older and more developed. The speed of the ball and even how much time you have on the ball is different. You have very little time so you need to make a decision quickly.”

With Clare suffering no shortage of injuries during the spring, it has allowed younger players like Meehan to get more minutes at this level.

He struck 2-4, all from play, across the league campaign as the talented forward did his hopes of featuring this Summer no harm with his consistent displays.

“Personally I was very happy to get a run of games. It was good to get the experience and play at that level.

“I feel like we played well in a lot of games but sometimes we didn’t get what we deserved. Against Wexford we played well but we slipped up in the end. I think we all worked hard during the league so hopefully it stands to us.”

With Meehan having experienced the round robin system at provincial level with the Clare minors in 2018 and 2019, he is aware of the need for a strong panel.

“I remember back to minor we had a similar format. It’s quite tough on the body so you need all 26 or even the 30 on your panel.”

He knows a strong start is vital under this system but is under no illusions as to the challenge they face in Semple Stadium.

“We know Tipperary will be very good. If you look at them in the league they are a well set up team. They will have no fear in them. We just need to focus on ourselves. We are able to beat them but we need to bring a big performance.”