Young gun Reddan reloads for Croker

HE is one of the young guns in this Clare team, one of the cubs introduced to buttress the old hands from ‘95 and ‘97, but midfielder John Reddan is no stranger to All-Ireland final day in Croke Park.

In the second of those two glory years for Clare senior hurlers, it was Reddan who captained the minor team that set the scene for their elders later in the afternoon, winning Clare's first, and so far only, minor All-Ireland.

"It was unreal, especially the final," Reddan remembers.

"There was an incredible buzz around the county at the time with the two teams in the final. We had lost the Munster final that year and it was very disappointing.

"We got over the game against Antrim, played Kilkenny in the semi-final, and that was a great help to us. We got over them, to reach the final, and we were all together then, the minors and seniors together. Going out that day was incredible.

Did the youngsters feel an extra responsibility, that they had to win, to set the table?

"I don't know we just went out for ourselves. In all fairness to that team, there was unbelievable heart, we'd do anything for each other.

"We went out that day and said we'd give it a good shot. We won it anyway, and as it turned out, it was a great lift to the seniors. I was talking to Daler (Anthony Daly, senior captain), and he told me that it boosted them along."

Many of the current Kilkenny senior team were on that side beaten by Clare in the semi-final, and that could now act as extra incentive to them. The thought, previously unconsidered, brings a laugh from the big, affable Sixmilebridgeman.

"That's right Shefflin, Cummins, Kavanagh, a good few of them were on the side. God they might be thinking that all right now, but I hope they don't remember it! They won an All-Ireland since then, so they might let us off."

Back then, John Reddan was at centre-back, the consummate hurler and was seen as a natural successor to Seanie McMahon. The trouble was that McMahon was just five years older and had a lot of fuel left in the tank.

Reddan had to bide his time, but this year he has found his slot in midfield, beside Colin Lynch. It may not be his natural home, but any nest was welcome.

"Centre-back was nearly always my position, but I don't mind centre-field either, there's a lot of variation there. You can go forward, drop back, there's a lot of freedom to wander around the place. If you're just in the backs all the time, you can get sick of it so a change is as good as a rest."

Having the experience of Lynch alongside helped the process.

"Yes, it's everywhere on this team. You start off at the back, Fitzy, Brian Quinn, Brian Lohan, the whole full-back line, Sean McMahon you look at those fellows. When we were young fellas in '95, only 16, we were looking at those men thinking Jesus, wouldn't it be great to play alongside fellas like that. You come along then and you're standing beside Brian Lohan in training.

In '97 John Reddan was with the team in Croke Park, and on that unforgettable celebratory journey home. Two years earlier, it had been a different experience, but just as memorable. No drink of course.

"I was only 16 at the time that wouldn't cross my mind," he grins, to roars of slightly disbelieving laughter.

"But I remember we went down for the Limerick game (Munster final), a good crowd of us. The year before, Limerick had hammered us, so on the day, the Limerick supporters outnumbered us probably three to one.

"But Clare went up so many points, we couldn't believe it. It started from there, Munster final, then we went up to Croke Park, and it was just unbelievable, against Galway.

"Went on then and Jesus, the atmosphere around Clare was incredible, the whole place went ape, with cars painted up and everything. We followed them home from Shannon airport, a few of us in the car, but the traffic went back for miles.

"It was a different buzz back then, a new sensation for Clare, to get to an All-Ireland final. Now, the whole county has picked up again. At the start of the year, we were being written off, even within the county, but now it seems to have picked up again, the buzz is back."

So it is, and so is John Reddan, looking to pick up where he, and Clare, left off five years ago.

Don't bet against it either.