Time to deliver on promise, says Clare’s Conlon

John Conlon insists the maturing process is over and that Clare’s time is now as they chase a Munster hurling championship breakthrough.

On Sunday, the Banner boys will attempt to become men by pulling off a first opening round victory in the province since 2008.

New manager Davy Fitzgerald believes they can do it, constantly imploring them to reach for greater heights since taking charge and holding up promotion to Division 1A as proof of their ability.

Yet he’ll only truly find out if his players are ready to graduate from what has been a lengthy period of transition when they take the field against Waterford this weekend.

Back in 2008, players such as Niall Gilligan, Frank Lohan, Tony Griffin and Colin Lynch were still on board when they last beat the Decies.

In Thurles, it will be the likes of Conlon, Cian Dillon, Colin Ryan and Conor McGrath — all members of the 2009 All-Ireland U21-winning side — who will be asked to pick up the baton.

“Obviously Waterford are favourites,” said Conlon. “They’ve been the form team for the last few years, getting to All-Ireland finals and winning Munster titles. Hopefully we can get up to that level. That’s what we’re aiming to get to.

“It’s about time we got away from this thing of everyone saying we’re a young team, a coming team. It’s about time we started looking to the future and building on our potential.

“That’s the big thing that Davy has brought to us this year, that [transition] is all in the past, this is the future. It’s about time we started to get it out of ourselves, showing our potential and showing our skills and believing we can match these bigger teams and get to that level.

“We’re up there now so it’s about time we started believing in ourselves.”

Confidence clearly isn’t a problem for Clare’s new breed. And with Fitzgerald as manager they have a man in their corner who knows their opponents intimately. Having picked up the pieces in Waterford after the jettisoning of Justin McCarthy in the middle of 2008, Fitzgerald led them to the All-Ireland final and stayed in charge until the end of last season.

“I suppose he has an insight into them but Davy being Davy he’s so professional that he has an insight into every team we go out against anyway,” continued forward Conlon.

Conlon reckons a crowd of up to 15,000 will depart Clare on Sunday for Semple Stadium. “There’s a good old buzz in Clare but I suppose we need to start winning a few games to get them back on our side,” he says.

They surely won back some of the old support by gaining promotion from Division 1B but for a county of Clare’s rich recent tradition the championship is always where it’s at.

“The championship is the most important thing,” agreed Conlon. “I’ve been on the panel now for four years, this is my fourth year.

“We haven’t won a championship game since I’ve been there.

“That’s our big aim this year, to get our first round in and see how it goes.

“But it’s very important for the development of the team and to allow us to grow as a unit that we beat Waterford.”