O’Dwyer eager to build on club success
This weekend Clare’s footballers carry the banner in the Munster SFC semi-final against Cork in Ennis, and expectations were lowered dramatically after a less-than-convincing win over Waterford last time out.
Odran O’Dwyer is positive, however. A veteran of the International Rules series, O’Dwyer is Clare’s leader up front and sounds a defiant note ahead of the clash with the Rebels: “The mood is fine in the camp, we’ve prepared well. Coming up against Cork, it’s going to be a tough, tough game. We’re well aware of the task we have in front of us.
“Before the game against Waterford things were a little down in the camp, we just didn’t seem to get going, and on the day against them we were lucky. Still, things have picked up a bit since, and in the last few weeks fellas have been rallying round.”
For a long time in that game it looked like Waterford might advance, and it took a 68th-minute goal from Enda Coughlan to send Clare through.
“Waterford was a tough game. In real terms the likes of themselves and us are more or less on the same level. I know John Kennedy (Clare manager) was warning against complacency, but that was never going to be an issue, we knew we had a game on our hands - and in the end we just about did it.”
If anyone knows about Waterford football, it’s O’Dwyer and his club mates from Kilmurry-Ibrickane.
The Clare champions had two ding-dong tussles with Stradbally of Waterford in the Munster club final before coming out on top.
The club achievements aren’t reflected at inter-county level, however.
“It’s disappointing not to be building on that kind of club success. Kilmurry-Ibrickane have been there or thereabouts for the last few years - Nemo beat us by two points in the Munster club championship a couple of years ago, for instance - but for some reason we don’t seem to be making that breakthrough at inter-county level. Why that is I don’t know, I can’t put my finger on it.”
O’Dwyer has had his own problems recently, a niggling injury which needed surgery.
“I had a groin operation at the end of February, the week after the All-Ireland club semi-final (in which Kilmurry-Ibrickane lost to eventual winners Ballina Stephenites).
“I hurt it before the Cork game in last year’s championship. I played away through last season for the county and then we got into the club championships. Of course, no one expected us to go as far as we did, and it was great to do so well, but the injury just kept getting worse and worse.
“Eventually there was just no point in carrying on, and I couldn’t really face inter-county football while I was carrying it. It’s one thing struggling on with the club but at that level you have to be right. Even at club level, I did myself no favours with the injury - I got taken off in nearly all the games I played! I’m recovered now, I had a back strain in the last couple of weeks but it’s nothing to worry about.”
Sunday’s opponents are a more immediate concern. Though Cork haven’t covered themselves in football glory recently, O’Dwyer isn’t treating them casually.
“With Cork you know they’re going to be very strong, they always are. Martin Cronin, Anthony Lynch and Eoin Sexton are great players, I know them from playing with the International Rules squad, so Cork are going to be very strong down the middle. Those U-21s they have in the forward line are bound to be handy as well. Cork will be a force to be reckoned with - there are no bad teams coming out of Cork, no matter what some journalists might say!”
O’Dwyer has nothing but praise for the Clare backroom staff, and manager John Kennedy in particular.
“John has taken a lot of flak in the last couple of weeks since the Waterford game but you couldn’t fault the team preparations - the management have left no stone unturned to get us right. They’ve put in a huge effort.”
Restoring confidence was one challenge for the backroom team, particularly after defeats such as the loss to New York.
“Losing to New York wasn’t great for the confidence, and confidence is always an issue for a team trying to break through. The first one or two games we had in the league, for example, we came close against Monaghan and got a draw, and they went on to beat Meath in the final of Division 2, so we’re not far off the pace.
“We’ve seen that in the club championship, though club success doesn’t guarantee anything - the step up to inter-county is always a big one. For years Cork and Kerry have been miles ahead of everyone in Munster, but Limerick have shown you can bridge the gap, you can get close to them.
“On Sunday we’ll be giving it our best. We’ve nothing to lose.”
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