Aidan McCarthy: Munster run not a bonus for Inagh-Kilnamona

The Inagh-Kilnamona sharpshooter insists the Clare champions aren't in bonus territory

Aidan McCarthy: 'I think the players in our dressing room are plenty good enough to win in Munster.' Pic: ©INPHO/David Ribeiro

Aidan McCarthy has rejected the idea the Munster championship is “bonus territory” for Inagh-Kilnamona after their historic Clare senior hurling success.

McCarthy was once again prominent as his club saw off Glen Rovers in Sunday’s provincial quarter-final in Páirc Uí Rinn.

There was plenty to celebrate after a first senior county title since 1908 as Kilnamona, but McCarthy insists the outfit aren’t happy with their lot as they prepare for a semi-final against Thurles Sarsfields at a Clare venue on Sunday week. They will be looking to become the fourth club from the Banner to qualify for the final in the five seasons.

"There's a lot of talk about this bonus territory,” said the 26-year-old. “I don't think it's bonus territory. When you're a Clare team going out in the Munster championship, you want to win. Whether it's club or it's county, you want to go out and win every game.

“So, this talk about bonus territory, I don't believe in it. I think the players in our dressing room are plenty good enough to win in Munster. We've shown now that we're good enough to mix it with any team in Munster and the Cork championship as well. We have the Tipp champions next, so we'll focus for the next two weeks and we'll see what comes then."

It was the Friday after last month’s county final victory over Kilmaley when Inagh-Kilnamona really turned their attentions to the provincial competition.

“We were back training the Friday, Saturday after the county final,” said McCarthy. “We had our celebration and it was unreal. The whole parish was gone wrong for a few days.

“We were just delighted to get over the line and we said we'd focus on the Munster club, because it's something we'd never been in before, so there was no point in going through the motions and probably being knocked out straight away.

“So, we said we'd put a good, honest effort into it and represent our club, represent our families most of all, and represent Clare as well the best we could."

McCarthy spoke of the ease in the group ahead of facing Glen Rovers. "There was no pressure. I didn't think there was from anyone. In the dressing room, coming down on the bus, there was laughing and joking. It was just another day out.

“We're in the semi-final the next day against Thurles Sars. We don't know what they're like either. It was the same coming down to play the Glen. We didn't know what they were like, we had just seen their county final.

“It's a new lease of life for our lads. All we want to do is go back down training again in Kilnamona on Tuesday night. That was our goal. It's not really about the next game, it's just to get back in training. We love going training with the lads. It's just unreal every night. The memories we have and the ones we're making this year are unbelievable."

Sunday was another example of Inagh-Kilnamona staying the course in the closing stages. It’s a characteristic of their game they had to develop, says McCarthy.

“Down through the years, we probably fell short in Clare. We were still a good team but we just probably weren't doing it for that last 10, 15 minutes and getting over the line.

“But this year we have. Especially this year, we have a panel of players, which is excellent. We had lads coming off the bench there and they put scores on the board as well. That's what you need.”