Banner haunted by cruel defeats
Tonight the Crusheen man captains the Clare U21s as they enter a Munster decider against Waterford, yet any preview of the game automatically begins with how Clare came up short in last year’s corresponding fixture. With the sides level as the match edged towards full-time in Ennis last July, Clare goalkeeper Donal Tuohy was adjudged to have stepped outside his small square when taking a puckout and Tipperary’s Pa Bourke converted the subsequent ‘65 to grant his side victory. The incident sparked chaotic after-match scenes as irate Clare fans invaded the pitch yet despite that heartbreaking defeat O’Doherty is intent on moving on.
“It was a big disappointment for us. But it’s behind us now and this is a new game. There hasn’t been much talk about it. It’s in the back of everyone’s minds and everyone’s thinking about it alright. But this is what we planned for really, to get back here to prove ourselves. We want to make up for last year.”
After a summer of abject disappointments, tonight’s match is a critical one for Clare hurling. The senior side only confirmed their Liam MacCarthy Cup status for next year with victory against Wexford last weekend, after a torrid run of defeats.
“It’s at an all-time low down here at the moment,” reveals O’Doherty. “Especially as we only won senior game this year and that was in a relegation battle. There’s been a lot of talk about it alright. But I don’t know will many be travelling down to Dungarvan to get behind us. It’s like we ran out of players since the glory days of the nineties. We’d no real leaders in the last few years, with Seanie McMahon, Brian Lohan and Jamesie O’Connor all going. I don’t think fellas have really stepped up to the mark yet to fill the boots of those heroes.”
In that context, the importance of a Munster U21 title is exacerbated. Yet Clare are not only battling against Waterford, but also against a long luckless run in this grade as they strive for their first ever provincial U21 crown.
“I didn’t know it until a few years ago when I started playing U21 that we hadn’t won one,” admits O’Doherty. “I couldn’t get over it. There were some great U21 teams in Clare down through the years. We could have won it in 1995 when the senior lads were pulled out as that was a big chance. Last year was another one we missed out on. When Davy was U21, they were supposedly robbed as well. It’s been all sad stories with Clare.”
Clare mapped their road to recovery by starting with a comprehensive semi-final dismissal of Limerick two weeks ago, on a night when the Banner attack ran riot. The availability of key players who were in America last summer has also boosted Clare’s options.
“Limerick gave everything in the first twenty minutes but then we rallied. Our forwards managed to get going after that and that was the end of it. There was no real fight on them after. It was one of the first times I played with Clare that the forwards caught fire, the likes of Colin Ryan and Darach Honan just couldn’t miss.
“It’s great to have the O’Donovan twins and Enda Barrett back as well this year. They’re all big players and they all came straight back into the team. A good club mate of mine Cian Dillon is back as well but he broke his leg recently. That’s a big loss as he looked good to start at full-back. It happened in a club match in the Clare Cup, he broke a metatarsal bone. It’s tough on him.”
Travelling down to Waterford’s home patch in Dungarvan increases the challenge ahead of Clare but O’Doherty is relishing it.
“I suppose Tipp had to do it last year, travelling to Ennis to play us. We just have to get on with it. We were down there last Saturday for a session. It’s not bad now. I had heard it was supposed to be narrow but it’s fine. It’s very tight and close which should make for a great atmosphere when it’s full.”
Meanwhile, Derry U21 hurling boss Brian McGilligan has hit out at the lack of support he has received from his county board as they chase a three-in-a-row in a tonight’s Bord Gáis Energy Ulster U21HC decider against Antrim in Casement Park at 7:30pm. Derry defeated Down 3-16 to 3-9 in last Wednesday’s semi-final but their players have been heavily involved in club activity since then.
“I’ll be lucky if I can get 15 boys fit to play. They played last Wednesday night, then had club matches since then. Then we’re looking to play them tonight and they talk about burnout. It wouldn’t happen anywhere else but, then again, this is Derry – anything’s possible in Derry.”
Antrim crushed Armagh in their semi-final last week in Newry by a 5-26 to 1-11 margin. Saffrons manager Terence McNaughton has been unable to prepare extensively with his squad and could be without holidaying senior star Neil McManus.
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