David Reidy: Clare didn't do ourselves justice in 2025

REIDY TO GO: David Reidy at the Munster Championship launch in FBD Semple Stadium. Pic ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

David Reidy is fully aware of what’s coming down the line starting next month when Waterford come to Ennis.

By the time April 19 arrives, it will be 11 months since Clare faced a Munster team in a competitive game.

However, Dublin will provide healthy opposition in Sunday’s Division 1B final and Reidy feels muscle memory will kick in come the provincial championship.

“We definitely know what's coming,” he insists. “Maybe in the middle of the league we kind of got over the line without having to be our best, but at the start and at the end where we put our most focus on was intense battles.

“I've no doubt that we need to up the gears another couple of levels, but I suppose we had four or five weeks between our last league game and the first round of the championship with Dublin in between. We're preparing nicely, we're in a good position.” 

What was a disappointing inter-county 2025 was a memorable one club-wise for the Éire Óg, Ennis man. That took the sting out of a tough All-Ireland defence for Clare where little or nothing went right for them.

“We didn't do ourselves justice to a certain degree. We weren't good enough to get out of Munster, so to have everyone rowing in the same direction, it makes a difference. We know everyone is putting in the work to be ready for the start of a championship, and that's the most pleasing aspect.” 

As a team that beat Limerick in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final, Reidy is expecting Dublin will prime Clare for what’s coming in the Munster SHC.

The opening round fixture between the counties in Ennis was a humdinger. “If you look back at the actual game itself, we were probably a small bit lucky to get the result.

“And then if you look at the way the league finished up, Wexford came to town, and again, we needed the result to get into the league final to get promoted, and they needed the result to get promoted as well.

“So, we knew there was going to be another battle there, so the intensity in both the start and the end of the league was real championship intensity.

“And again, it's not finished yet, so again, something to look forward to with Dublin in a final. That will really, I suppose, show where we are as a group, but it'll also get us ready for the Munster campaign.

“Look what they did in last year's championship, and then what they've started to do in the league. Getting players back from injury, they're only improving and they're only getting stronger.” 

The spell in the second tier helped Clare develop their squad, Reidy points out. “Being in Division 1B let us use the players a bit more, and what they did, they interacted with the team, they integrated with the team so well that they weren't out of place.” 

Reidy is glad to be playing on a bill in Limerick on Sunday that will attract a sell-out crowd. “We have a full house. It might be a full house of our supporters, but as a player it probably doesn't really make a difference.

“What do players want? Why do players play? Why do players go through all the tough evenings, tough nights earlier on in the year…it’s to play in front of full crowds. Be it a full crowd of Limerick or Cork, it doesn't really make a difference.”