Tony Kelly: We’re determined to finish job

It’s a curious tradition of Clare hurling that the losers of the county final make their way to the pub of the winners the following day.

Breaking bread with the team that has just dashed your dreams might seem difficult enough, let alone getting into rounds and shots with your nemeses of 24 hours earlier.

But they manage it just fine in Clare and even after an epic replay defeat in this year’s final, favourites Clonlara had enough about them to observe the tradition and trek across to Ballyhea.

Word has it that Clonlara even paid for a lot of the drink while there were some nuggets of advice passed between players who a day earlier had been at war too.

Clonlara’s John Conlon, for example, pulled county colleague Tony Kelly aside and spoke from experience when he implored him not to get wrapped up in celebrating a rare county title at the expense of the Munster championship.

“John was saying that when they won it in 2008, it was their first one in years and they made the mistake of celebrating and being in the pub Wednesday and Thursday and then playing on the Sunday,” said Kelly.

“He said that was actually one of the biggest regrets he had because they haven’t won a county final since, and haven’t had a proper crack at a Munster club campaign.

“To be fair to our lads, after that Monday might, I don’t think we had anyone in the pub on the Tuesday, which was a shock!

“We have a lot of county lads so they understand the whole concept, the whole importance of it compared to the club lads who mightn’t be used to a big win like that. So once Monday night was finished, we were back on the field on Wednesday night. There was a strong focus to do ourselves justice.”

Still, few expected the first time Clare champions, with literally no history in the provincial championship, to actually take out Thurles Sarsfields, the provincial and All-Ireland favourites.

Certainly those who fancy an ‘in play’ bet wouldn’t have risked their hard-earned money on Ballyea when they trailed the star-studded Tipperary outfit late in that Munster semi-final.

“With maybe eight minutes to go, you look up at the scoreboard and see Thurles seven points up, winning probably doesn’t come into your head at that stage,” continued Kelly, the 2013 Hurler of the Year. “It’s more just keep going until the end. You’re thinking that you don’t want to get hammered when you’re in that kind of situation. Your aim is to just keep plugging away and not to give up.

“We were actually in the same situation against Clonlara the first day, five points down in the drawn game with maybe eight minutes to go as well, and we got a goal to bring it back. So it’s never gone and thankfully we’re still standing.”

It’s hard to begrudge Ballyea their day in the sun. Based next door to the Clarecastle club, a powerhouse of Clare hurling, they’ve existed in a shadow for a long time, often as a junior or intermediate outfit.

Tony Griffin, an All-Star with Clare in 2006, put the club on the map and Kelly has picked up that baton and ran with it, inspiring the All-Ireland SHC win of 2013.

Gary Brennan, better known as the beating heart of Clare football, has proven an inspirational figure for them too.

Kelly accepts you’ll never see the International Rules player in a Clare hurling jersey though.

“I said it after the last day, Gary the athlete would make it, if he went into it, if he dedicated himself 100%.

“I think he could turn his hand to anything. He’s a very good soccer player as well. If he trained for hurling non-stop, he’d be a huge plus because he is a very good hurler. You saw him against Thurles Sarsfields and that’s him as a part-time hurler, only picking it up since the inter-county football has finished.

“I think if he really focused on it he’d be a big plus to Clare. But I don’t think he has any intention of it. He said he’s all in for football and he’s an outstanding footballer as well. That’s the decision he’s made.”

If Ballyea can get it done on Sunday, Brennan will have played for Ireland, helped Clare to a first ever All-Ireland football quarter-final, almost won an All-Star and picked up maiden county and provincial club hurling titles in the space of 12 months. Not a bad year.