Crusheen standing behind cool and calm starlet Dillon
The image showed an exhausted Cian Dillon standing alone in the centre of Croke Park, throwing a wink at someone.
“He is just such a cool and collected individual,” smiles the Crusheen chairman.
Hurling folk in the village speculate Dillon was a “late bloomer” and Slevin doesn’t rewind very far for his abiding memory of the Clare corner-back.
“The 2010 county final, he was simply outstanding at centre-back. It was our first senior county title and we beat the reigning champions Cratloe.”
Others in the North Clare parish point to his introduction in the 2009 All-Ireland U21 semi-final to render Joe Canning scoreless from play in extra-time, while more recall his performance in the 2001 Division 1 primary schools final. Fresh from their Division 2 success the spring previous, Crusheen’s fledgling hurlers fought their way into the big one. Standing in their way, however, were the mighty Clonlara. A 15-teacher school versus one with only four.
Dillon stood toe-to-toe with current team-mates John Conlon, Darach Honan and Conor McGrath in an absorbing battle. Crusheen prevailed.
Slevin though is not for turning. Their maiden senior success was the afternoon when Cian Dillon stood tallest in his native red.
Fifty two years earlier, Tom McNamara occupied the same number six jersey as Crusheen’s lowly stickmen swept to Junior B glory. Junior A success ensued the following summer and by the close of 1960, the club earned their place at Clare hurling’s top table. “They were great times,” McNamara laughs. “We took them all by storm.”
Indeed, not alone did he captain the three consecutive county title winning teams, McNamara also served as trainer.
“Fr JJ Minogue came in to train the team after me and he was hugely committed, there was no fooling him. If training was called for at 7pm, training started at 7pm. You might as well have gone home than arrive in at five past.”
Crusheen reached a first senior final in 1970, but the loss of keeper Gerry O’Connell to a straight red card was costly. The club returned the showpiece four years down the line with Newmarket-on-Fergus, seeking a 10th county title in 12 years, providing the opposition.
Shrugging his shoulders, McNamara lets out a sigh. “Crusheen used to come out of hurling matches with more injuries than you’d witness in the Battle of Somme.”
As for this Sunday, McNamara proclaims Clare will have to keep a tighter leash on Cork’s forward unit than Gerry Brown did on Christy Ring the day the pair met in the Munster Championship.
“Gerry cleared the first few balls and Ring came down and tapped him on the back, ‘young Browne I have heard of you’. Now Gerry said he grew two feet there and then, but when he looked again Ring was over in the far corner, took possession and stuck it in the net. Ring came back over, tapped him again and said you need to keep a much closer eye on me.
“Please god after Sunday we will have a few more stories to tell.”
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