Out of the rough, Sweeney and Clare nurture their green shoots 

Parking the day job as a greenkeeper at Lahinch, the Banner half-back will swing for a third-straight Munster final berth 

READY TO ROLL: Alan Sweeney of Clare and teammates. Pic: Seb Daly, Sportsfile

Sport is Alan Sweeney’s pastime. It’s also his livelihood. Not that he planned it that way.

When the Doolin native was in school, he went down to Lahinch for a summer job as a greenkeeper. The Irish Open was coming to West Clare the following year and there was no shortage of work.