Banner legend O’Loughlin sees shift from traditional styles in final three

Clare legend Ger O’Loughlin is in an unique position to assess the three counties still standing in the All-Ireland senior hurling championship race.

A county (five) and Munster (one) title-winner with his club Clarecastle, Munster (three) and All-Ireland (two) winner with his native Clare, O’Loughlin then went into management.

In an incredible spell he guided Clarecastle to a Clare title in 2005, Adare to three-in-a-row in Limerick and tomorrow is at the helm as Newtownshandrum face Douglas in a Cork SHC fourth round tie in Fermoy. Oh, and between all that, in 2010 and 2011, he served a stint as Clare boss.

A man then steeped in his own county but with a foot also in each of the other two camps, the famed forward is struck first by the similarities.

“In Limerick and Clare there’s great pride and passion, always was. What I’ve found in Cork, in my limited experience (this is his first season), is that same fierce pride and passion in the clubs and in the county, a love for the jersey. It really is a religion there — they’re not called the Rebel County for nothing!”

What has also struck him however, but even more so, is a shift away from traditional styles. Limerick were always seen as the county with an emphasis on the physical, Cork with an emphasis on the skill, Clare a mix of both.

Not anymore, says O’Loughlin, neither at club nor at county level.

“That theory held up in the past but it’s not the case today. You have some of the finest hurlers in the game now in Clare and Limerick and that has been happening over the last nine or 10 years, the development squads and their coaches all doing their jobs and producing these players.

“In both those counties now, right down to minor level, you have some of the finest ball-strikers you’ll find anywhere.

“I don’t think Cork ever lost their touch and we saw evidence of that again on Sunday, but they may have lost some physicality.

“They don’t have the likes of Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, John Gardiner, Ronan Curran, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, who were all such powerful players along with being able to hurl.

“In saying that, hurling is changing anyway, you won’t get away anymore with just focusing on power and physique, that’s how hurling is going in the last year or two especially.

“That’s down to changes in management style as well. Whether that is good for the game or not, I’m not sure yet.”

Of the three sides still standing though Limerick are indeed the most impressive physically, their bench especially, while Clare — whom they meet Sunday — have mesmerised everyone with their sublime skills.

“I’d agree totally with that. Clare have a new brand of player now whose hurling is really top drawer – very skilful, pacy, super first touch, great strikers. They don’t have that ultra-tight kind of defence that was there 10 years ago when every man had a job to do, man-to-man, mark your own man out of the game, but then again it’s a different kind of game now.

“They need to be agile as well as being strong, and they need to be able to hurl. Limerick have the most physicality, yes, but they’re also all well able to hurl. Their backs are strong, can play the old man-to-man game, but they’re also very agile and mobile, can adapt to the new game. There’s no question about the pace of the players up front, and Declan Hannon has fantastic touch. Then they have the likes of Dowling, Downes and Moran to come in and they’re as good as is in any other county, big but with great stickwork as well.”

As for a winner; his heart is with Clare but what he hopes for above all is a game to match what we saw last Sunday.

“It depends on whether or not both teams turn up. I hope they don’t get caught up on the occasion, an All-Ireland semi-final, or the fact it’s a derby, in which case it could turn into a dour low-scoring affair. I’d be hoping for the sake of the game that both teams turn up, that they don’t leave it in the dressing-room or the nerves get the better of them. They’re two inexperienced teams, most of them have never played at this stage before with the exception of a few Limerick lads. If both teams turn up though then yes, it should be a great contest again.”