This article is from page 95 of the 2007-07-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 95 JPG
TONY CONSIDINE was drinking furiously from a small plastic bottle that contained one of those pro-biot- ic potions. Danone Actimel it was — strawberry or blackberry in flavour.
Thing is, the lifelong and devoted non-drinker could have been forgiv- en if this particular potion contained a thimble or two of Bushmills’ finest whiskey. Some malt even.
All because this hurling game was thirsty and stressful work and with each pro-biotic swig Considine was restoring some normal service and colour to his cheeks. His words be- trayed this — his team had just en- dured a rocky ride before securing the win.
“Relieved,” he says in the Case- ment Park corridor outside Clare’s dressing room. “They’re the words. Relieved, because we were on a hid- ing to nothing coming up here. To win was great. They put it up to us for a very long time.
“You can see that Antrim are no bad team. They’re well able to hurl and I was a happy man when Gilly buried that ball. It was looking dicey there for a while. I only relaxed when Gilly put that ball away.
“We said at half-time that there was going to be a period in the second half when we were going to have to really battle. They came at us and we showed a bit of character. It was the most important game I’ve had since being manager of Clare. It looked scary at times but 3-21 isn’t a bad score, no matter who you’re playing,” adds Considine.
Another swig of his pro-biotic po- tion, before Considine nods in the direction of Galway in Cusack Park. “The win colours up everything,” he says “and we know we still have a lot to do because we’re up against a good team next week.”
Then back to Antrim: “A win was important here, going home with the two points. If it was two points to one, we’d have been happy enough.
You could say that we were in trouble but they held on.
‘“Boc (Brian O’Connell) was tre- mendous at midfield and took the game to them all through. Diarmuid McMahon got great scores. It’s lead- ership we wanted and they showed leadership. There were leaders all over the field. Gerry Quinn, Conor Plunkett and Brendan Bugler who gave a great display.
“It was also an apprenticeship for the lads that came in. Those lads are going to be involved with Clare when I’m long gone. That’s what the game is about. It’s not about managers and coaches — it’s about fellas coming on, young players coming on and fight- ing for the cause of the jersey.”
They’ fight on their backs on Sat- urday next. They’ll have to when two Eee Te MOF E aoe miele. qmsi ments game of the weekend.