O’Loughlin dares to dream of final place
Tomorrow, in one semi-final in Leinster there’s the fairytale of 48-year-old Damien Fox and Tullamore, champions in Offaly for the first time in 45 years, coming up against the Brendan Murtagh-powered Westmeath kingpins Clonkill.
But that’s matched in Munster by the fairytale journey of Cratloe, senior hurling champions in Clare for the first time in their 122-year history, facing the heavy artillery of Waterford’s Ballygunner, led by veteran Paul Flynn.
In the other Leinster semi-final, hot favourites Ballyhale Shamrocks of Kilkenny meet Ballyboden St Enda’s, Dublin three-in-a-row champions, while Newtownshandrum (Cork) are also hotly fancied to dismiss another three-in-a-row champion, Adare of Limerick.
That last clash is the one most exercising the mind of Ger O’Loughlin.
A Clare man, and proud of it, he will of course be keeping an eye on events in Walsh Park and wishing Cratloe nothing but the best. But Ger is also manager of Adare, and as such, feels a responsibility to lead this club to what is the next logical step for them – provincial champions.
“Based on the last two years competing at this level, you’d have to say the lads are not out of their depth, they’re well able to compete. Last year we had a great win over Toomevara, but we probably left it behind us then against De La Salle in the final.
“We dominated the first half completely and had about 80% possession, but we had only five points from 14 chances in that half. We should have been out of sight but we left them a lifeline which is a dangerous thing to do against the top teams.
“We didn’t start too badly in the second half either, we were still competing for 10 minutes, but, like any team at this level, De La Salle were going to have their good spell. We gave away a soft goal, then a soft point immediately afterwards, and they were in the ascendancy after that while we were on the back foot and lost out.
“It was a combination of lack of concentration, bad luck, missed chances – and that was the major error, you have to put your scores on the board when you’re on top.”
That old dictum applies against Newtownshandrum especially, because when they have their spell in control, they can be absolutely lethal, as they showed in a huge Cork final win over Sars and again in their latest outing, a whopping 6-17 to 2-12 demolition of Erin’s Own in the Cork SHL semi-final, most of those scores coming in the second half. O’Loughlin continued: “This is probably the biggest challenge we’ve faced in Munster, and Adare are not underestimating it. Newtownshandrum are impressive and worthy Cork champions, they won a brilliant match against Thurles Sarsfields in the first round.
“It would be great for this club if they could jump this hurdle, get to another Munster final, but we’re under no illusions about the challenge facing us.”
He confesses his side are better equipped for that challenge this year.
“We have three guys we didn’t have last year. Mike Clifford was on the team the first year we won but he was away in the States for the last year on a work contract. He’s back now and is coming back to full fitness after a groin injury. Then there’s Declan Hannon, only 17, but an advanced 17, tall and strong – he has slotted into the team very well, looks very promising. There’s John Fitzgibbon, another minor, another who’s playing very well. Those three have given us a lift, and it has also have given us more choice within the team.”
Even with those reinforcements, however, can Adare match the speed, the skill, the finishing of the Newtown men? Are they now at that level?
“Well, the fact is they’re the best in Limerick for the last three years; we’ve had one or two close calls but really, Adare have dominated. The question then is, how good is Limerick hurling? But, we have competed well outside Limerick also and should have won one Munster. So I’d rate them as good as what’s around on any given day.
“They’re a very honest team, committed, strong, dedicated, with a good blend of skill and strength, youth and experience. It’s a big challenge, Newtownshandrum have a huge ambition to get out of Munster and go on to bigger and better things.
“I think we’re ready for it.”
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