Lohan on that All-Ireland final losing feeling, Clare’s S&C recruit, and their support

Clare Senior Hurling Media Night Ahead Of The All-Ireland Final, Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis, Co. Clare 9/7/2024

It is eternal. One fixed column in the history books. Examine the record of Clare’s last All-Ireland final defeat and the entry is explicit. Losing captain: Brian Lohan.

In 2002, Kilkenny were seven points superior in the decider. Lohan led the Banner in the parade that day. The red-helmet clad warrior shook hands with Andy Comerford before the game and battled manfully throughout it. Eventually, as the temperature ascended, the red helmet was cast aside.

That day was different for Lohan. He was already a two-time All-Ireland winner. Then he experienced what it was like to be an All-Ireland loser. That feeling hasn’t left him. Ask him about memories of All-Ireland finals and he quickly references the sensation that comes with defeat.

“There is great excitement in it,” Lohan said at the All-Ireland final press night. “But it is a game that you have to enjoy the excitement that is there, try to embrace it, while at the same time keep at the back of your head that this is a really competitive game.

“It is a game that everyone wants to be there, but nobody wants to be in a losing team in an All-Ireland final. It is worse than losing a semi-final. It is worse than losing a quarter-final. It is a bad place to be.

“While you are conscious of enjoying it, you do want to stay concentrated, you want to be tuned in to get the best out of yourself, to show your best abilities on that big day.” 

They are primed to do so. Throughout the season, Clare’s pace and power has been a devastating weapon. In the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Kilkenny, Ryan Taylor made his return after suffering an ACL injury in the corresponding fixture last year. Despite a lengthy spell on the sidelines, he didn’t look out of place.

Where does that energy stem from? Last year Clare recruited former Galway senior hurling head of athletic development Lucasz Kirszenstein as their new strength and conditioning coach. Kirszenstein was part of the 2017 All-Ireland winning setup. He was also on the ticket with the victorious Tipperary team in 2016.

“He obviously has a great CV and a great track record,” said Lohan. “When he became available, he was someone we wanted to talk to, we were delighted to get him on board.” 

Another factor in that triumph was their immense support. Yet again, Clare vastly outnumbered Kilkenny in HQ on the day. That has become a consistent feature of Lohan’s reign. Think back on some of their famous wins under his reign, the pitch invasion in the Gaelic Grounds last season, the shed in Ennis bouncing to ‘Freed From Desire’ after Diarmuid Ryan’s winner against Cork a few weeks later.

Their leader is at his most expressive when extolling that. He wants to reward it.

“What I find is we have a great brand - Clare hurling is in the county. It is brilliant to be involved in Clare hurling, it always has been brilliant to be involved in Clare hurling. I think our supporters, there is a real affinity with the team, with the individuals on the team.

“They see the work they are doing, how committed they are. Every day that they go out they give it all. We get a response from our supporters, then. I don't know what the figures were, but I would say would it have been three to one, four to one, or five to one, above at the semi-final the last day.

“That was from a team that was probably very disappointed with how we played in the Munster final. Both matches against Limerick we made some mistakes, but they were still willing to support the team and get behind the team. I think there is that affinity there. We are conscious of that and we are delighted with it, but it has to be respected too.”