Anthony Daly: Everything about Clare was brave and heroic - but I'd have feared a replay

It's a killer for Hoggie and Seamie Harnedy to come up short again but All-Irelands are so hard won. A handful of the Clare lads have their second medal now, which is even more incredible again considering that Clare only have five of them.

Clare players John Conlon, right, and Peter Duggan celebrate. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

I was just thankful that the cameras were focussed on the players celebrating on the pitch, on the ecstatic hordes of Clare supporters going bananas around Croke Park. Because the tears were rolling down my cheeks, live on TV.

For anyone who couldn’t see me, they could hear how much I was an emotional wreck after the final whistle – because they could hear in my breaking and quivering voice. I was just lucky that by the time the cameras focused back in the studio, Liam Sheedy and Donal Óg Cusack had already spoken by then and I’d had a chance to compose myself.