Banner win an apt tribute to former board chairman
We had the famous McNamara’s Céili Band beating the drums for years. In Killarney we had two McNamaras — both named Kevin and both priests.
One was our late lamented Bishop who went on to be Archbishop of Dublin and the other is administrating in the parish at present. You wouldn’t have to go to many masses to realise that Fr Kevin is a proud Clare man and an avid GAA follower.
The Clare senior hurling manager is also a McNamara — the mighty Mike Mac himself. Sadly another great hurling Clare man also named Michael McNamara died last week. Fr Michael was buried in Barefield where he had been parish priest for eight years.
Most priests don’t have the time or opportunity to get involved too much in GAA administration especially at a high level. Not so, the late Fr Michael. Indeed, he was one of a rare breed of clergymen that became County board chairman and he might be the last. Fr Michael served as Clare chairman from 1998 to 2003, a hectic time in Banner GAA affairs. He also served on the Munster Council and National Committees.
Those commitments combined with his priestly duties were a hefty work-load. Despite all the pressure he always remained calm, courteous and dignified. He was also a good thinker and wasn’t afraid to express his opinion. His coming into the chair in Clare coincided with the formation of the GPA. Initially, almost all administrators were against the Players’ Association. Not so, Fr Michael. Indeed he was the first person I heard stating at congress that the GAA should welcome the GPA and seek to develop a relationship with them. Many weren’t pleased with his comments. However his words were not only visionary but prophetic. Now almost a decade later what he advocated is being actively pursued by the powers that be. It wasn’t surprising, therefore, that the cathedral in Ennis was packed for the funeral mass and that thousands defied torrential rain to walk alongside his coffin.
He now rests on a little mound outside Barefield Church a few yards from the road. His love of people and of hurling marked him out as a great Clare man and GAA man. May he rest in peace.
Fr Michael wasn’t long in heaven when he wielded his influence on behalf of the Clare U21 hurlers. On the day after his funeral, Clare pulled off a most famous victory and won the Munster U21 championship for the first time.
Like all of Clare’s great victories it was hard earned and fully deserved. It proved lucky 13 for Clare. On 12 previous occasions they had played in Munster finals and lost them all. Last year’s defeat was the most galling of all — with the crucial score coming from a ‘65 awarded against their goalkeeper, for stepping outside the square from a puckout. The manner of that defeat nearly broke my own heart so what must those involved have felt like?
But in the GAA no matter how galling the defeat and the disappointment there is only one way to rectify it and that is on the field of play. Thus Clare’s young guns, rather than become embittered and angry at the manner of defeat in 2008, resolved to put the matter behind them and do better this year.
Nine of last year’s team were still eligible this year including their fine goalkeeper Donal Tuohy from Crusheen. His spirit may have been crushed last year but he, like all his team mates are riding high this week.
This was a splendid contest played in the famous Fraher Field, Dungarvan. Everything was superbly organised both within and outside the grounds and the packed attendance created a wonderful atmosphere.
For the first 15 minutes it looked like Waterford were going to overwhelm Clare for the fourth time in Munster U21 finals. The hosts were in command and things look ominous. But whether it was the memory of last year’s defeat or the spirit of their late chairman, Fr McNamara, the Banner men got down to business and gradually wrestled the initiative from a fine Waterford team.
Crucial to Clare’s confidence at this time were two inspirational long distance frees from their midfielder Nickey O’Connell. The Clonlara young man must have spent many a day in his youth watching and imitating the great Sean McMahon. Nickey’s accuracy from long distance was equally impressive and influential. Clare, too, had what all good teams need, two good scoring forwards — Colin Ryan and Darach Honan. Ryan is blossoming into a fine scoring forward, both from frees and from play and young Honan is a very good chip off a fine old block, as his father Colm was no mean player either. Darach’s two goals were decisive and opportunistic; the second goal which closed the game, was one that even DJ Carey would have been proud of.
It was significant, too, that John Minogue should have the honour of managing Clare to their historic first title and, one of his selectors was former Clare great and former county senior manager, Cyril Lyons.
How many former senior inter-county managers would be willing to serve as selector to a U21 county side? The great Cyril is one and for that dedication and humility he deserves great praise and success.
No Waterford person complained afterwards. They knew Clare’s joy. They had experienced Clare’s disappointments so often themselves.
These two great GAA counties did themselves proud on Wednesday night. Now both can look forward to more good times to come. And I know one priest in Killarney who will get plenty mileage for his homilies from this victory.
