Rebel rout leaves Lyons drained

CLARE manager Cyril Lyons was decent and approachable as ever, but there was no disguising his disappointment, his hurt, at what was a demoralising comedown from the high of a couple of weeks ago.

Yesterday at Semple Stadium Cork did to them what they had done to Tipp and the pain was plain to see.

“You prepare players as best you possibly can, try and cover all the angles,” he said softly.

“But we knew we couldn’t afford a flat day and we had one today. Cork got all the psychological advantages early on.”

Then the voice trailed off, lost in a background of Cork fan elation.

Cork did get off to an impressive start, 1-5 on the board before Clare had their first score but this was down, it was ventured, to fantastic Cork defence.

“Two points in the half,” he said. He didn’t need to say more.

Of course Clare had to plan without inspirational captain and centre-back Seanie McMahon, and wing-back David Hoey.

A factor, but Cyril didn’t want to make too much of it:

“Any time you have to change two positions it’s a loss, and that’s no disrespect to the two lads who filled the vacancies.

"Sean McMahon would be considered the best centre-back of the last 10 years, and even though Diarmuid (McMahon) tried very hard to fill his shoes, it’s very hard to do that overnight.”

Just after the restart, Clare did threaten. They came within three points of Cork, but it was never enough.

“We needed a goal, and we had two good chances. Niall Gilligan had one, got the point, but we needed the goal.”

Now Clare face a huge challenge. Following this loss and last night’s All-Ireland qualifiers draw, next up is Galway this weekend. The Bannermen have just six days to prepare.

Last year, Clare faced Wexford in the All-Ireland quarter-final six days after the Slaneysiders had suffered a similar loss, Leinster final last-minute defeat by Kilkenny.

Suffering from that hangover, Wexford were no match for the Claremen.

Galway will be coming into this game fresh. Will Clare be able to match them?

“We’ll find out,” was Cyril’s reaction.

“Psychologically you’re shattered, and physically you’re even more drained, it’s going to be a huge task for us.”