Bannerman in hostile territory prepares to break Rebel hearts

IN the lead-up to a major championship game, imagine what it must be like to be in the heartland of the enemy.

Frank Lohan doesn’t have to. The two-time All-Ireland SHC winning Clare defender earns his crust as an accountant with Glaxo SmithKline in Cork, and the banter has been plentiful ahead of tomorrow’s last-four affair in Croke Park.

(Ironically for Lohan he moves back to his native Shannon at the end of the month to work for the Schwarzeherna Pharmaceutical Company).

So, what’s it like? What kind of a feeling is he getting, in the city that never stops talking?

The question is greeted with a smile.

“Well they’re All-Ireland champions, but they feel they haven’t peaked yet this year. They’ve played well enough, have got this far, but without reaching the peak of previous years.

“I think they’re quietly confident, I think they’re anticipating a Cork/Kilkenny final. What they make of us, I’m not too sure, I haven’t heard too much on that yet, but I’d say they feel a bit like they felt before the Waterford game and that worked out fine for them. They’ll probably take a bit of confidence from that.”

Confidence is never really in short supply Leeside, but what of Clare? Are they surprised to find themselves at this stage, given the way they were written off after the Munster semi-final loss to an early Tipp blitz?

To the contrary, says Frank. “I was surprised the start of the season went so badly for us, we had a lot of good work done, so no, I’m not surprised to be here.”

Neither should anyone else. This is a side of real quality. All-Ireland finalists three years ago, pipped by Kilkenny last year, a League final this year, it all has to count for something.

Throw in the fact that there is experience, with an All-Ireland medallist in every line of the pitch, and the argument is strengthened.

It’s taken them a few games to recover from the deflating losses to Kilkenny (League final) and Tipp, but recover they did, and in their last two games, against Waterford and Wexford, Clare hit the high notes.

This is now a team on song, and thanks to the new All-Ireland qualifier system, they have every chance of reaching their second All-Ireland final in four years. It’s a system which, despite criticism that it favours the big counties, finds favour with the Clareman. “I think it’s a good system, gives teams a lot of matches and a lot more big games. Maybe it does favour the big guns, but not this year, in that both Cork and Kilkenny have won their way right through. Apart from Galway, every other team was beaten at least once, and if you’re beaten twice, you can have no complaints. At this stage now, Cork and Kilkenny have only to be beaten once, and they’re gone.”

Which could happen, of course; “hopefully!” grins Frank.

For the first part of that scenario to occur, one man in particular will have to be guarded. Brian Corcoran was an All Star defender of the ‘90s in two positions, hurler-of-the-year also; last year, he was the All Star full-forward. Brian Lohan is the Clare full-back and Frank’s big bro will have a hell of a job tomorrow. “Yeah, but all inter-county forwards take watching these days, you can’t take anyone lightly,” says Lohan junior.

“I don’t think I ever played with him for Munster, might have played with him in the shinty alright. He’s a good guy, there’s no question he’s been a huge asset to Cork. After the loss in the All-Ireland final of 2003, he was probably the key to them winning it last year. But Cork have won when he’s not been as dominant as well, he lasted only 20 minutes in the Munster final (got injured), but they still won well. Certainly Cork are no one-man team. They have Joe Deane, the two O’Connors, I could start listing them off one by one.”

No need. Clare have their own stars, from Davy Fitz in goal, through Brian and Frank Lohan, Seanie McMahon at centre-back, Colin Lynch in midfield, Alan Markham and Niall Gilligan up front. Most have been around since ‘95, some came on a few years later, most of the rest of the side were in Croke Park in 2002. They’ve had the big days, the highs in Croke Park, the lows, and will not be fazed by this challenge.

“Preparing for an All-Ireland semi-final, one of the big games, that’s what you want. I love looking forward to these matches, it’s brilliant. If you can get yourself fit, if you can get yourself right, you’re in with a decent chance.

“Croke Park, All-Ireland semi-final, against the Munster champions, the All-Ireland champions, that’s where you want to be.”