This article is from page 62 of the 2011-01-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 62 JPG
AN identical start to the season for Clare in all but two key aspects, the performance and of course the result. Almost a year ago to the day, Micheál McDermott’s competitive debut as Clare senior football manager was against UCC in Cooraclare but they found it tough against the college side who would go on to contest the final of the McGrath Cup against Kerry.
On Sunday, McDermott had the perfect opportunity to right the wrong of last year and despite a lack of football due to the collective ban on inter-county teams, it was Clare’s hunger that eventually won the day for the home side.
“I’m relieved more than happy today.” Admitted McDermott immediately afterwards. “It’s the first game of the season for ourselves and it was very evident that we were very rusty in the first half and gave away a lot of possession and gave away a lot of possession even in the second half.
“We looked leg weary as well at times because of the gym programme for two months that probably took it’s toll but I was glad we finished very, very strongly. In the last 15 minutes we showed good character to want to win the game and there was some very good football played at times, very good scores kicked and listen, today is about something to work on and hopefully we will be better the next day. We were missing a lot of players there today that even cried off at the last minute. But it’s a strong panel and this competition is going to be an opportunity to have a look at everybody on the panel.”
Players like Alan Clohessy, who was the outstanding forward on show, did themselves no harm and McDermott also saved special mention for his newer recruits.
“Alan Clohessy was in good form today. He was showing well for the ball and he was winning the dirty ball as well and it must be said, there was some quality ball put into him as well. It’s something that we are going to be working on over the next numbers of weeks because we had done very little football on the field so it’s good to get a win and another competitive match next weekend.
“It’s also a big step up for the likes of David O’Brien making his debut and Conor Ryan but listen, these are young players as well and it’s going to take them time to blend in but I was happy with their contribution there today. They tried hard and all we ask for from a player going out onto the field is to give us one hundred per cent honesty and we got that from every player today.”
The reward for Sunday’s victory is a home quarter-final meeting with another Cork college and for McDer mott and Co. it’s a further opportunity to test his squad.
“Cork IT will be a tough side. I think UCC beat them last year in the second round but Cork IT are littered with inter-county stars as well and with the Sigerson getting ever so close, it’s going to be a real tough battle but these are the games that are going to help us pick our best 15 for the first round of the National League. It’s going to be a competitive game and we are going to have it at home as well and it’s good to have another game to look forward to next Sunday.”