This article is from page 64 of the 2011-02-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 64 JPG
REMEMBER last year’s treacherous Division 2 campaign that could be likened to a circus ghost train of unforeseen pitfalls? Clare senior hurling selector Danny Chaplin is adamant that Clare are not about to endure another such trepidatious ride through the so-called lesser lights of the hurling world and feels that the county are better equipped both on and off the field to deal with anything that is thrown at them during this year’s league campaign.
“I hope that it isn’t like last year because it wasn’t good for the heart condition last year down in Carlow and up in Antrim. There are banana skins, of course there are but we would feel that we are a year further down the road and better prepared ourselves on the sideline for these level of games. We would probably have a better view of it ourselves so last year was a big learning curve for us as well.
“What went on last year, it was our first year and we accepted certain things but we wouldn’t be happy with that this year. We have to get performances, even if it is the league. It is no good struggling through games and last year the biggest score we put up was against Westmeath [4-19] but yet we conceded 3-15 which took a lot of the good out of it. But the likes of that, we would hope to rectify this year and put teams away from early on and not be praying that we get a late score.”
That confidence is derived from a positive attitude from the players to their individual strength and conditioning programmes during the winter collective break as well as a further batch of new talent that have embraced the squad in the Waterford Crystal games.
“I think one of the big things for us this year is that we have a good pre-season done and after the winter break, we were ready to start in January. We had looked at the Clare cham- pionship last year and we brought in a few new guys. Some of the Under 21’s made the step up as well and at the end of last year, we had a small panel of only 23 so we added to that and gave them a weights programme which they were doing themselves because of the collective ban. In fairness they were all doing it in gyms so by the time January came around, we were ready to start the physical programme. It’s going well, we are getting a great response and the players are putting in a superb effort and if anything I would be concerned that we are a good bit ahead of where we were last year.
“Some guys have taken the chances, more guys haven’t as of yet availed of the chances they got but they will get another couple of games before we trim down the panel. Some of them have been very promising. I mean you look at the likes of Mark Earley who would not have made the 21’s and he has played in a couple of games in the Waterford Crystal and did very well. Conor Tierney started out very well in the first couple of games and maybe wasn’t as effective in the last game but he will get another game. It’s guys like that who are getting chances and that’s what it’s all about at this time of year.
“The two Cratloe guys Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney; Darach Honan who is only in his second year at this level; Patrick O’Connor who we looked at at wing-forward on Saturday against Cork, all these guys are only 19 or 20 years of age and doing very well.”
Looking at the league schedule, the stand-out fixture for Danny Chaplin is undoubtedly the first round clash of Division 2 favourites Clare and Limerick in Cusack Park on Sunday, a tie that not only renews the local derby rivalry but may also have a greater relevance in terms of making the final in May.
“Clare and Limerick takes on a life of its own really whether it’s league or championship, Division 1 or Di- vision 4, it doesn’t really matter. It’s Clare against Limerick and it’s just like the club scene in Clare, it’s your nearest neighbours and it will be the same on Sunday. There’s the local rivalry aspect of it, guys know each other well so I think it’s good for us and will give us a real barometer of where we are. We are very hopeful of doing well in it but it’s probably going to be our toughest game.
“When we looked at the league when the draw came out, we saw we had Limerick first and then Antrim up in Belfast next which are probably the two toughest games in it. But our targets are two wins out of two in the first two weeks. Next Sunday will take on a life of its own and it’s probably the bigest league match that we have been involved in, even bigger than last year because we didn’t meet Limerick last year and we are really looking forward to it.”