'You just felt flat both days': Rynne and Clare keen to avoid repeat of past failings

A repeat of previous performances against both Limerick and Cork in Munster can’t be countenanced in Croke Park.

Sean Rynne of Clare signs autographs. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

Flatness is what Clare will be hoping to avoid when they face Limerick again in Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final, says Seán Rynne.

Clare seemed to be caught on their heels too much in both Munster SHC defeats to Limerick and Cork and a repeat can’t be countenanced in Croke Park.

“It's hard to put a finger exactly on what went wrong, but you just felt flat both days,” said the 22-year-old. “We just didn't put our best foot forward. It's frustrating enough in a way, but we know ourselves inside the group what we can bring when we're on it. So, it just has to be a huge focus now on trying to bring a big performance against Limerick.” 

Rynne joined the panel in the middle of the 2023 season and made his championship starting debut in May of last year. 

Patient, he had to be. Patient, he was. 

“I didn't really think I was frustrated even when in the first two years you wouldn't really break in.

“But obviously your dream as a young lad is always to play for Clare, so I didn't think I was that any hungrier. The hunger has always been there. It’s just the quality of players there, and you know it's not going to be easy to break in, so you just have to bide your time.

“There's savage competition there in the squad. I think the lads are saying this is one of the strongest, most competitive squads they've seen in years. It's really good healthy competition there.” 

An injury delayed his 2026 season but he saw it as a chance to get stronger for the hurling ahead and he has been rewarded for his diligence with an extended run in the team, scoring 14 points in five SHC games. 

“It gave me more chance to get fitter and then the hurling just came with it.” 

Rynne counts himself blessed to be able to pick the brains of some of the county’s finest ever hurlers like captain Tony Kelly, John Conlon and David McInerney.

“The lads are just so good that way. You could go up and approach them about anything. You could ask them questions. They just have loads of experience throughout the years. Even just watching them in training, the way they can see space, identify space, move into space.

“Tony, you'd always be (talking to), sometimes you'd be talking with John and Davy Mc, Cathal Malone, about what way they position themselves in the field and what way they're looking at it from their perspective, seeing how they go about their business. It's just cool to see their side and the way they see things.” 

The Inagh-Kilnamona man doesn’t see this season as the last for them as some are suggesting. 

“That hasn't crossed our minds, or I wouldn't be thinking that at all. I see a lot of them lads still have a nice bit in their legs, I don't think that's really came into play. There’s no fear of them lads, they are warriors.”