This is a beginning for Banner, not an end
Many sides have blossomed in this grade, most famously Limerick at the turn of the century, but they and many others like Galway have failed to go and build on such success.
Perhaps those players felt they had enough done with their All-Ireland medals. Remember though, the one that matters more than any is the big one, the senior Celtic cross.
My advice to Clare is to look on this as a beginning, not as an end. Remember, all those who are now clapping them on the back could be the same people giving them a kick in the arse when senior success isn’t coming.
For positive example, look no further than the county they beat on Saturday night, Kilkenny. Rest assured none of those lads, if they had managed to win this game, would have been happy with that alone.
The most pleasing thing for me on Saturday night, speaking in very partisan terms, was to see how Clare actually hurled Kilkenny off the pitch in Semple Stadium. The skill levels they showed, the character to come from behind at half-time, the whole package, was fantastic. In fact were it not for a brief lapse in concentration in the second quarter, this would have been over far earlier. How Kilkenny were ahead at the break, I just don’t know.
Great credit is due to the Clare management. Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor had a tremendous record at minor, winning two Munster titles; now they have embellished that with provincial and All-Ireland U21 titles.
I loved the way they completely changed the game plan at half-time, and just ran at Kilkenny all over the pitch. Everywhere Clare were dominant, a rare event against any Kilkenny team.
Remember too that a lot of those Kilkenny lads were playing for more than just an All-Ireland U21 medal; there’s a certain even bigger game coming up in a few weeks, and this was a perfect opportunity to impress Brian Cody.
Kilkenny though had no answer to Clare, no answer to the Banner defence especially. The full-back line was tremendous, Paul Flanagan was my man of the match, David McInerney was very solid at full-back, while Killian Ryan terrific in the other corner. The two wing-backs, Seadna Morey and Patrick O’Connor, also excelled, while Conor Ryan was very strong at centre-back.
Of course the real positive for Clare though, and again fantastic to see, the threat in that full-forward line. Cathal McInerney, Conor McGrath and Cathal O’Connell scored 2-14 between them. Cathal reminded me of a young Joe Deane but with electric pace. Someone said to me afterwards, ‘isn’t it a pity he’s not a bit bigger’; ‘no,’ I said, ‘if he was any bigger he might be no good!’ Such close control, such composure on the ball.
Conor McGrath showed great leadership, and Cathal McInerney had Kilkenny in all sorts of bother. I was surprised Kilkenny didn’t make a change there.
What of Kilkenny, would Brian Cody have seen anyone who’ll merit a place against Galway in the senior final? I don’t think so. Kilkenny played their U21 final a few weeks ago when they beat Galway in the semi. Clare were much too strong for them. I was surprised at Kilkenny’s lack of pace, they were simply outran by their opponents and I was disappointed at their lack of leadership on the field. Richie Doyle was prominent for a while in the first half when Kilkenny came back but then faded. Cillian Buckley also struggled to make an impact. Walter Walsh had his moments, as had Ger Aylward but overall, Kilkenny were well beaten.
They went in at half-time a goal up when they shouldn’t have been in front at all, and very often that can give a team a very false impression of itself. I think that happened to Kilkenny. The management can do its best to warn the team but players themselves can get that false impression, youngsters especially.
I don’t think Kilkenny will be too put out over this loss, they’ll find a senior or two out of it. Clare need to take more from it, though, and that’s up to these players.
