Brendan Bugler: John Conlon is hurling's greatest ever versatile player

"On the way up on the bus to Croke Park, he was asleep for an hour and a half. Even when we stopped off, he didn't wake up during it."

UNBELIEVABLE: Clare selector Brendan Bugler celebrates with John Conlon after the All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Kilkenny. Picture: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

The morning after Clare’s All-Ireland final win, we approached Brendan Bugler outside the InterContinental Hotel for a chat. Bugler had no problem acceding, but wanted fellow coach Shane Hassett to be part of the sit-down.

Hassett is a Tipp native. Drom & Inch to be precise. His link to Brian Lohan goes back to the 2014 all-Limerick Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final when Davy Fitzgerald brought his LIT team out through the bushes. Hassett was in goals for Lohan’s UL on that day of theatrics and temper.