Momentum can be powerful weapon as Clare seek historic win

AMIDST all the hoopla in Clare hurling circles about tomorrow’s All-Ireland U21 final, the focus on the bigger picture cannot be lost.

As satisfying as a national title would be, what is more imperative for Clare is that the stars of this team proceed to shine just as luminously on the senior stage over the next few years.

The memories of how the county’s last star-studded underage team, the 1997 All-Ireland winning minors, fell through the cracks offers a strong warning.

But this precocious bunch have arrived at an opportune moment for Clare. They’ve helped lift the hangover from the seniors’ miserable summer, and recovered from their own setback in losing last year’s Munster decider to Tipperary in devastating circumstances. Injury doubts have clouded their preparation, most pertinently about attacking talisman Darach Honan, yet the signs are promising that players are assuming full fitness. Honan is going to be heavily policed by the Kilkenny rearguard, thus increasing the onus on Colin Ryan and John Conlon to produce sparkling displays.

Elsewhere, Clare look strong, with Ciaran O’Doherty, Nickey O’Connell and Enda Barrett all in buoyant form.

So what’s the caveat to all these positives vibes emanating from Clare? The fact that Clare must attempt to halt the seemingly inexorable progress of another Kilkenny team towards All-Ireland honours. Richie Hogan is Kilkenny’s megawatt presence close to goal, although an ankle injury has put a question mark over his participation. Still, JJ Farrell, Mark Bergin and John Mulhall are classy attackers who will cut loose if given the opportunity.

It will be interesting to see what, if any, influence the Croke Park factor has on the game. Kilkenny’s players have featured regularly at the venue up through the underage grades and a sizeable chunk of them were involved in last year’s All-Ireland U21 title.

By contrast, Clare are sailing into unchartered territory and were notably deprived of a run-out on the Jones Road sod last Sunday evening after a black and amber sea had invaded the pitch and left plenty of debris in their wake.

But Clare’s players have displayed an admirable maturity and resilience all year.

They never wilted when Waterford powered ahead early on in the Munster final and kept their heads to triumph in an All-Ireland semi-final rollercoaster against Galway. That level of mental fortitude shows they will be up for the battle here, and they should be roared on by a sizeable level of Banner support as well.

They may be lacking in experience yet their momentum is a powerful weapon. There has been a sense of destiny enveloping the Clare setup this year, and if the attacking battles go their way, Honan thriving at one end with Hogan thwarted at the other, then a historic crown could be theirs.

Verdict: Clare