Banner haunted by cruel defeats

IT’S twelve months since the puckout that prompted a raging storm from the Clare hurling fraternity, but Ciaran O’Doherty is in no mood to dwell on the past.

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.”