Clare aim to turn famine into feast

WHAT happens when the fairytale comes true? Does everybody really live happily ever after?

On Sunday week, Waterford meet Clare in Croke Park in an All-Ireland semi-final, chasing the dream that has eluded them since 1959.

Their fans are festive, already gorged on a Munster title, a substantial starter that itself had escaped their clutches for nearly 40 years. But, should the Decie boys succeed, what happens then?

Clare took that same fantastic journey in 1995, repeated it in 97. Now however, judging by the fall off in support from those heady days, a mere 41,000 souls in Croke Park on Sunday last for a triple header that also included sizeable numbers from Galway, Antrim, Tipperary and Cork, much of that old excitement is gone, the wild passion defused.

"Much wants more" was the succinct comment of Fergie Touhy, a member of those all-conquering sides of 95 and 97, now a match analyst for Clare FM.

"The support has changed all right, there's no doubt about that. A few years ago it was a journey to the unknown, and everybody was so delighted at the prospect of going to Dublin that cost didn't enter into it. Then, as we started winning, the fairytale came through, and we had fierce celebrations. Now, the demand is higher, the expectation greater."

There is also the fact, undeniable and understandable, that this current team has yet to capture the hearts and minds in Clare in the same way as that breakthrough side.

Last year, the year before, beaten early in the championship and by the old rivals, Tipperary. This year, same again, even if again the margin was narrow.

Coming on top of a mediocre league campaign followed by a trouncing from Limerick in the quarter-final, a lot of Clare hurling fans felt they were in for another poor season and thus decided to pass up the trip to Croke Park and the meeting with Galway.

What's been missed however, is that it takes time for a team to gel, and with some of the biggest names in the game moving on, Cyril Lyons and his selectors had some knitting to do.

Done now, and Touhy can see this side doing a bit more damage this year, before the season is over.

"I understand where the fans are coming from. The fear is that if we don't win something after 97 fairly rapid, there could be another famine, another 50 years.

"But you've got to be realistic too. Tipperary waited 10 years before winning last year, Cork had to wait. You just have to keep giving a good account of yourself, take your chance when it comes around.

"Get your underage structures in place, see if you can get a couple of good players coming through every year you don't necessarily need 15.

"And that's been the case, with this current Clare team. If you look at all the young lads after coming in, the likes of Gerry Quinn, Tony Griffin, Tony Carmody, Conor Earley, Conor Plunkett, Gearoid Consodine, John Reddan, they're well capable of hurling into September. And I think they can.

"When I saw them drawn against Galway I was fearful. I thought Galway would be able to open it up above in Croke Park. But as it came nearer the match I changed my mind. Now, I think they can beat Waterford, and after that it's anybody's. Anything can happen in the final."

And then perhaps, they will they capture the hearts? "I think we're all equal now, though it might be a bit like George Orwell's book, all animals are equal but some are more equal than others. Ah no, I think the names are starting to be more recognised. Give it time, and you never know what'll happen."