Clonlara contingent impress Horan

He’s living in Limerick these days, in Castleconnell, the heartland of Ahane hurling, he’s married to a Limerick woman, he’s still earning his corn in a different sport, but Marcus Horan’s heart is still in Clare and still in hurling.

So it is that even as he readies himself for yet another season in Munster red he has a warm eye on the progress being made by his home county, and the contribution being made by his own fellow Clonlara clubmen particularly.

“We had four starting against Dublin last Saturday, Domhnall O’Donovan, Nicky O’Connell, John Conlon and Darach Honan. Young Colm Galvin came on as a sub. They’re a good bunch, all of them.

“I was very impressed with John Conlon, he battled hard and the work he got through I think inspired the rest of the lads. I think seeing Nicky sent off had an effect on him too, it lit something in him. It was tough on Nicky, the tackle wasn’t a good one but these things happen.

“Darach is a big lad, a marked man, but he drew a great free for the goal, very clever, and he took his point very well too.

“It’s so much different for Clonlara these days; when I was playing we struggled to put teams together and to see those guys now representing the county, it makes me very proud of where I come from.’’

Does he still have the longing, can he see himself doing what Anthony Foley did when he retired and going back to his roots (Foley won a Clare junior football title with Smith O’Brien’s)?

“It’s something in the back of your mind, to come back playing, but the way standard is rising I wouldn’t be anywhere near that. Even to play junior, I’d say I’d struggle. If I ever did go back it would be only at a social level.”

People have often remarked about the Munster rugby team that there’s a lot of the GAA in the way they play, the pride in their home place, the pride in the jersey. That sense of place was almost palpable in Cusack Park on Saturday in the against-the-odds win over hot favourites Dublin, especially in the way the team fought its way back from adversity when reduced to 14 men a couple of minutes into the second half, falling six points behind.

Many times, and with Horan in the van, Munster have done the same, bringing great joy to the army of supporters. On this occasion it was Horan himself who was entertained.

“I thought they were dead and buried to be honest but they showed some fight. There was awful disappointment after the Waterford loss but it showed great character to come back and do what they did against Dublin.”

Onwards now to this weekend and a fifth competitive meeting against their near-neighbours from across the Shannon. One to savour, says Horan.

“We’ve met a few times already this year, in the Waterford Crystal and in the league, four times, three wins for Clare and a draw — it’s very hard to continue that kind of dominance and that’s why I think this is going to be a really tough game.

“They know each other so well at this stage but Limerick will feel they have a lot to prove. The two league games they lost to Clare, they probably feel hard done by, the league final especially when Clare got the goals that mattered.

“They’re going to be well up for this, had a big win over Antrim — people might say the opposition wasn’t great but it can really build your confidence when you put up such a high score.”

Will he make it to Thurles? “I’m hoping to be there, yes, with Cate (his wife) father Pat Ryan, but with three young kids in tow it takes a bit of organising.’’