Tuohy save pulled the game from the fire for the Banner

FOR a brief moment early in the last quarter of Sunday’s final, Clare manager John Minogue worried that they might not get the victory they were chasing.  “When Kilkenny went two points clear, I was concerned. It took a fantastic save from Donal Tuohy to keep us in the game. We were on the rack a little bit at that stage but we steadied the ship,” he reflected moments after Sunday’s final.

“It’s a great feeling and a great achievement for the lads after the heartbreak of last year. It fills a gap and a void. They are All-Ireland champions and nobody can take that from them,” he commented.
“The subs we brought on, Conor McGrath and Patrick O’Connor, made a very big contribution. Conor McGrath won three or four vital balls near the end.”
The Scariff native went on to repeat what he had said after previous games. “I have been asked in the past why have a panel? You have to use the bench and it has worked well for us on a few occasions this year. All of the lads we have played in the games en route to this title have played well.”
There were, in the manager’s view, many heroes in the success. “A lot of guys stood up. Eamonn Glynn was absolutely magnificent in the second half, clearing ball after ball; Nicky O’Connell made some fantastic interceptions in the first half. Colin Ryan contributed excellent points. Different guys made different contributions at different times. That’s what you have to look for. Overall, to win without Darach Honan scoring today is a great achievement. He has been off sick and was injured. He was well marshalled today but he got a few vital frees.”
The Clare boss is clearly confident that this group can go on to bring further success to the county.
“They have to be as good a young bunch as we have had in Clare for a long time. I was reading somewhere recently that the average to come off an U-21 team onto a senior side is six or seven. I think Clare will have to get more than that. We have quite a number of young hurlers.
“We brought in two minors this year, Conor McGrath and Patrick O’Connor. There are a few more out there, a few good individuals. If we get nine or 10 of these lads to play senior inter-county and then fill the gap with lads that are older and maybe younger who are coming up along the line.”
Will Minogue and his management team continue at the helm ?
“I don’t know,” came the reply. “There are a lot of guys there from ’95 and ’97 who have a lot to offer Clare hurling and maybe they are the group of people to go and bring these guys forward. We have done our bit over three years.
“The Seanie McMahons and Jamesie O’Connors have a lot to offer. The talent is there and it might be more appealing to them,” he replied, before heading onto the team bus for the journey back to Ennis.