Kelly says Banner aiming to be a success on Qualifier road

FOR the Clare footballers, the All-Ireland qualifiers series has proven a graveyard for their ambitions rather than a source of hope.

Since the system’s introduction in 2001, the Banner never progressed past the second round and suffered the ignominy of not being allowed compete in 2007 and 2008, as GAA rulings dictated they were bound for the wilderness of the Tommy Murphy Cup.

In the aftermath of last month’s Munster SFC quarter-final exit against Waterford, boss Michéal McDermott spoke of the need for greater focus on the qualifiers in contrast to previous years.

And this week, captain Gordon Kelly, backed his manager’s viewpoint.

He said: “I think in the last few years our application for the qualifiers hasn’t been what it should have been. But lads are starting to realise now that our season isn’t over when we lose in Munster. There’s still an All-Ireland championship to play for.

“We went up there last year against Donegal, without much preparation and ran them close. They went onto have a big run at it to reach the quarter-finals and beat the likes of Galway along the way. Usually there seems to be a weaker county every year who has a good run, it was Wicklow last year. We’re looking at it and thinking that could be us.”

The first step on the qualifier road starts Saturday in Tullamore when Clare travel to face Offaly. Kelly concedes that draw could have dealt them a far more arduous fate.

“We’re happy enough with the draw. We didn’t fancy a long trip up to Ulster and we didn’t want another game against a Division 4 team we’d played already this year.

“It’s not too bad of a trip to face Offaly. We played up there a few years ago there in the league. Tullamore is a fine pitch and I don’t think, in this instance, home and away will matter too much.”

He insists the Clare camp have overcome the disappointment of by their reversal against Waterford. They opened that tie in a bright and engaging fashion but being reduced to 14 men when wing-back Declan Callinan was sent-off hampered their cause and the Déise pegged them back at the finish.

The skipper added: “We were disappointed after a good start that we didn’t see it through. We were six points to two up after 25 minutes but they scored four points on the trot so we went in with just the one point lead at half-time.

“The goal was a killer after the break and the sending-off as well straight after. Declan was a big loss as he was one of our best performers. Once we lost him, we were on the backfoot and the game plan we were playing, required all 15 men on the pitch.

“But we’re over the disappointment of that. We were back with the clubs for a while but training has gone well since. I and the lads are all looking forward to Offaly.”