How Clare played their cards right

There was no sports psychologist present, no wisdom imparted from management, instead the Clare hurling panel played a game of cards to settle the pre-match nerves on Saturday morning.

Wing-forward John Conlon revealed how the team train en route to Dublin resembled a rural pub, with squad members gathered in small circles playing 45.

“We were on the train on the way up and the train driver remarked to me that he had never seen so many lads as relaxed,” said Conlon.

“I’d say there were two or three games of 45 going on and different little games. Everybody was just laughing and having the craic. I suppose the panel is so young, lads don’t get too nervous.

“That’s a good sign of youth, they are fearless. They are a great bunch of lads. We just go out, if we win, we win and if we lose we just have to put our hands up. Davy has always instilled to us that hurling is a game to enjoy, to go out and express yourself.’”

Conlon joined the Banner set-up in 2009, but four summers would pass before a first championship victory was secured in the saffron and blue.

He pointed to the belief, or lack of as was the case, crippling the squad, adding that the current crop must now build on their newly acclaimed status.

“When Davy came in, I suppose I was on the panel two or three years and we hadn’t much success. I don’t think we had even won a championship game, never mind winning All-Irelands. It is all down to him and his backroom team. I suppose Pat Donnellan was nearly sick of naming out so many people in the backroom team on Sunday. Between picking up your socks to washing your gear, the set-up is amazing. It is very professional.. As he kind of put it ‘If you give a lad something, they will respond to you.’ I think a big thing in Clare was that when we first started out we might have been a bit frightened but lads are getting it in their heads now that they can believe in their abilities.”