Coping with expectations

How do you deal with expectation?

Many times this year Patrick O’Connor has had to cope with that thorny question, first with the Clare senior side as they played their way into the hurling’s top division for next season, next in the Munster championship and All-Ireland qualifiers where they eventually succumbed to neighbours Limerick and finally with the U21s as they won Clare’s second Munster title in four years.

In that Munster campaign, with a team in which more than half of the starting 15 had seen senior championship action, Clare performed brilliantly in accounting for Waterford (minor champions of three years earlier) in the semi-final. This meant they were the hottest of favourites to take unsung Tipperary in the final, in Cusack Park to boot. As it transpired, however, it took a late, late goal from substitute Niall Arthur to see Clare home, champions once again. That win set up this afternoon’s clash with Antrim in Semple Stadium but again, expectation, again Clare hot favourites.