Clare ace McGrath says it’s a day to savour rather than fear

Some players find All-Ireland final day too much.

It should be their ultimate ambition realised, greeted by the roar of the 82,000 crowd but instead of flourishing, they freeze. Formerly fluid wrists become tight, legs turn to jelly, thoughts are confused and jumbled as dream turns to nightmares.

Then there’s Clare. Almost as young a side as ever hit the sacred sod, certainly as inexperienced, they came out against Cork in the All-Ireland SHC final three weeks ago, looked around, smiled, soaked it all in and enjoyed the parade behind the fabled Artane Band. Then came the throw-in and their moment of truth.

They played as though an All-Ireland senior hurling final in front of a capacity Croke Park was something they’d been doing every week.

“I thought the whole day was brilliant to be honest,” said corner-forward Conor McGrath, who, at 22, is one of the more experienced lads.

“Even the half an hour out on the pitch beforehand, the noise, the atmosphere was just brilliant. I enjoyed the whole thing.

“Then the minute the match starts you get your first touch and you’re involved. It just becomes a normal match. But I really enjoyed the experience.”

But what of the crowd. It could have intimidated them?

“Not particularly. You’d think you would coming up to the match but once it starts you barely notice anything. The only thing you might have noticed was when Cork got a goal there was a huge cheer, but other than that you’d notice very little.”

So, that was three times in the entire afternoon that Conor became conscious of his surroundings, of the occasion. Well, four actually. The final torturous seconds also made an impression, Clare a point behind having dominated most of the game. It was at that stage, for the first time in the game he suffered a sinking feeling.

“Yeah, you’d be lying if you said it didn’t cross your mind that it was gone but thankfully, we were allowed play on for a few seconds. Luckily enough we were able to get the opening and thankfully Domhnall got the point.”

In contrast to Clare, there are those who believe Cork felt the heat.

“People are saying that Cork didn’t play well,” said Conor. “I thought both teams played reasonably well. They were never more than four or five points away from us, were getting some great scores in the second half. I think both teams played very well and I think both teams will feel they can play better again.”

A new occasion now, a different sort of All-Ireland. Saturday afternoon, 5pm, under lights.

“We’ll treat it very similarly, probably leave from Clare a couple of hours later than we have been doing but I don’t think it will make too much difference.”

And the lights? “I don’t think that will make much difference. We played Cork earlier in the league in Páirc Uí Rinn under lights, played an U21 All-Ireland final last year against Kilkenny under lights. I can’t see them making any difference. So many clubs have lights now, I’d say there isn’t a player who hasn’t had experience of playing under them, loads of times.”

Mention of which, it’s just as well Conor doesn’t have any problems under lights because with only one round of club championship played and as a member of dual club, Cratloe, he’s going to find himself in whirlwind action.

“There are six of us involved with the county panel [himself, Conor Ryan, Podge Collins starting, Cathal McInerney, Liam Markham and injured Seán Collins on the panel], all dual players. Once this is over we’ll be back club training on Tuesday night and it will be 100% focus on that. With all players, the club comes first, that would be my view on things anyway, and we’re 100% focused on both the hurling and football championships in Cratloe and we’d be delighted to be involved until Christmas!”

In the meantime, this little matter of another visit to GAA HQ for some unfinished business. Will they be fazed this time? Not a chance.