Clara’s fitting celebration of Johnny Ryan

Clara 2-12 O’Loughlin Gaels 1-13: Let’s start at the end, if only because there’s no reason why we shouldn’t. At the very end, after the hurly-burly was done, after the battle was lost and won. That’s where the backdrop to Clara’s second Kilkenny SHC title in three seasons, and third ever, was painted.

Keith Hogan, the winning captain, took delivery of the Tom Walsh Cup and delivered a thoughtful, generous and witty speech. He thanked everyone who needed to be thanked (including “the mammies for making the sandwiches after training — I’m pretty sure the daddies didn’t”) before finishing on a poignant note.

Back in January, he pointed out, the club had suffered a body blow when Johnny Ryan, one of its stalwarts and the father of Lester, Liam and Tom, who all played yesterday, died in an accident in his own farmyard. “A pillar of Clara GAA,” Hogan declared. “A massive influence on everyone’s life, on and off the pitch. We’re here because of men like Johnny Ryan.”