Clare colossus John Conlon has overcome every trough and setback

Mike McNamara and Ger O’Loughlin trace the impact of a Banner stalwart.

COMING OUT ON TOP: Clare's John Conlon signs autographs after the Munster AHC win over Tipperary Pic: Michael P Ryan, Sportsfile

This month 15 years ago, Mike McNamara unleashed the most enduring Clare hurling career of all.

Their Munster semi-final against Tipperary was just into its 62nd minute when he gave John Conlon the first of what was to be a record number of championship appearances for his county, 62 and counting.

“We would have kept a close check on up-and-coming players and John would have been one of those,” recalls McNamara. “For those of us who have had the privilege of training him, we would know how committed he is and just a lovely lad.

“He was always very dedicated to his hurling and you would have to be playing for Clare for 16 seasons. You’d have to be very proud of what he has given to Clare.” 

McNamara stepped down at the end of the 2009 season to be replaced by Ger O’Loughlin who had been charged with taking a broom to the squad. Conlon was the future but the present was going to be difficult for everyone.

“I took over on the assumption there would have to be a bit of clear-out and plan for the future,” says O’Loughlin. “John was a guy who you saw a great future for because he ticked all the boxes with a great attitude and his application to training.

“In saying that, it wouldn’t have been easier for the likes of John coming on board because it was transition and we moved on five or six lads, three or four lads retired and then we moved on another two or three and that needed to be done.

“But we never heard any whingeing from John Conlon or anyone like that. They just got on with it and we were delighted they got their just rewards with the All-Ireland in 2013 with Davy Fitz.” 

Conlon: 'We would know how committed he is and just a lovely lad'

It was Fitzgerald’s record number of senior championship appearances for Clare that 34-year-old Conlon surpassed when he faced the Sixmilebridge man’s Waterford team in Ennis last month.

But there have been troughs. Injuries. Piles of them. This year’s Division 1 final win was made sweeter because he missed the replay victory over Waterford in 2016 with an ankle injury that flared up again three years later. There was also an elbow issue sustained in a clash with Daithí Burke in 2018 and he has worn a protective sleeve on his left arm ever since.

Twelve months ago, he suffered concussion in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin exactly 10 years after a similar head injury in a Munster semi-final loss to Cork. In 2022, a back problem kept him out of the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kilkenny.

Before that, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in March 2020, an injury which turned out to be a blessing. “I was able to really focus on them for 12 months,” he said. “I came back a better player in my own eyes.” 

O’Loughlin marvels at what he has been able to do despite those setbacks. “I wouldn’t be in regular contact with him but he strikes me as a guy who is fanatical about the game. He would have to be to come back from something like that in the shape he is in and the strength he possesses. It tells you he is totally dedicated to it.

“I have no doubt about it that he’s another year or two in him if he wanted it because of how well he’s kept himself but look that’s up to himself. His injuries during the covid were a major setback but he didn’t let deter him and he worked harder. The reward is he is a bigger, stronger, fitter man.” 

Returning from injury in May 2021 to a new role at centre-back added to the challenge but one he embraced even if his switch wasn’t initially welcomed. “The standard and the level of awareness a centre-back requires would lend a player like John to the job,” says McNamara. “It was controversial at the time because you were robbing Peter to pay Paul but he has proven he is more than capable.” 

O’Loughlin felt the same as his old coach. “The game has changed so much now it’s about reading the game and you’re not really man-marking but distributing and being available to be in the right place to cut off the supply to the opposition. He’s very good at that and I think myself that he is a loss in the forwards but he has helped solidify the backs.

“They seem to be a lot more comfortable with him there. We dread the day this all comes to an end because he’s so versatile and we’re all the better for him in the backs at the moment. He’s one of the best players we’ve ever had.” 

Off the back of his second All-Star last year, McNamara saw Conlon guide Clonlara to a senior county title playing “phenomenal particularly on the days he was wanted”. He prays there are more just rewards coming for him on Sunday.

“So the legs are getting a little bit weaker but hopefully now we’ll have a Munster medal for John. We need a Munster title. As a county, we’re starved for one. For a while we didn’t present ourselves properly in Munster. Now we are.” 

First up, best dressed is John Conlon.