Shane Meehan eager for a clean run of fitness, silverware, and a Clare victory at Croker

SEARCHING FOR SILVERWARE: Shane Meehan of Clare during the Munster SHC Final against Limerick in Semple Stadium. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Hurling was always Shane Meehan’s number one sport, even if only by a short nose. So when Brian Lohan and Colm Collins were both knocking on the youngster's door, his decision wasn't long in the making.

The rising Clare star has a unique under-age CV. His personal awards haul in 2019 alone saw him named Munster minor footballer of the year, while county captain, and selected on the national minor hurling team of the year.

His background stands apart too. From Ennis, he plays for the Banner club rather than their near neighbours Éire Óg and attended Rice College over crosstown rivals St Flannan’s.

His club initiated its juvenile structure in 2012, with Meehan the first inter-county model off the production line. His Championship debut arrived before his first adult involvement with his club in the junior A grade. That gave him the added distinction of becoming the Banner’s first Clare representative at the highest level in 37 years.

His lightning speed and silky stickwork are the first qualities that strike you but Meehan reckons playing junior hurling, allied with the standard of Lohan’s training, has helped to develop his game.

“Junior is such a competitive grade, you’ve to really win your own ball in it,” says the Mary I student. “You’d be nearly marking two lads and then in with Clare, you’re let free a little bit more.” 

With Podge Collins as his inspiration, Meehan dedicated himself to both codes. By 17, he was the subject of interest from both senior managers.

“I always had a bigger draw for hurling so my mind was always nearly made up.

“It’s everyone’s dream to get that call and especially from a figure like Brian Lohan.

“He rang my father and Dad told me then. I would’ve been a bit shocked. It was more surreal when I did my first training, going in meeting the lads, and meeting Brian.

“He's brilliant, especially with young lads. He always gives you your chance no matter what age you are. If you're the oldest fella or the youngest fella on the team, he’ll give you your chance.

“It’s brilliant and you have so many role models on the team that we would have watched in 2013 growing up. You’ve guys to look up to that you can always learn from.” 

It was a pinch-yourself moment as Meehan first pucked around with the heroes he watched lift Liam MacCarthy at Croke Park.

“A lot of us now, the younger lads, the biggest memory we’d have would be 2013. I would have looked up to the likes of Podge Collins, Tony Kelly, (John) Conlon even. Especially the lads who played in your position.

“Podge, you’d watch games he’s played and you’d be really trying to learn from what he’s done.

“We still have a good few of them left that you can ask for advice or you can learn from. They’ve it done at the highest level. They’ve won an All-Ireland.

“Tony’s won Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, numerous All-Stars, so you have lads you can look to for advice. It’s brilliant.” Despite his sterling under-age career, Meehan’s Clare teams fell short of a Croke Park appearance or Munster title.

The semi-final losses to Kilkenny in the past two years have been his only involvements at HQ, while the near-misses have continued in a pair of Munster finals against Limerick.

A stubborn groin injury disrupted his spring preparations last year so top of the checklist for Meehan are a clean run of fitness, silverware, and a victory at Croker.

“When you get to the stage where you're getting to a Munster final two years in a row, the next step is trying to get that cup. It's definitely a big goal for us to get some silverware this year.

“It probably comes down to a bit of experience maybe that Limerick have with winning. We've learned in the last couple of years that we really have to push to the last second to get over the line.” 

They will welcome the All-Ireland champions back to fortress Cusack Park to begin their Munster campaign in April but before that main course, those sides will serve up the amuse-bouche of a Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League opener at Clarecastle tonight (7pm).