This article is from page 74 of the 2011-06-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 74 JPG
TO BEAT Tipperary at any time provides a sizeable sense of achievement so to beat them for the second year in succession and in their home ground of Thurles was more than satisfying for the Clare minors on Friday evening.
However, beneath that veneer of contentment also lay a sense of relief for joint-manager Gerry O’Connor that after the disruption of exams and the long lay-off since their previous competitive outing, his side had showed enough character to prevail.
“We came down here and we had huge hopes for this team but with minors, you don’t know what you’ve got until you turn up on the night. The first half was very funny and I’ll be honest, we got a lucky goal from the penalty to go three points up.
“But they came back and we just couldn’t shake them off.
“Then Shane O’Donnell got a ball and popped a pass to Galvin and wow what a finish. The accusation that was levelled at us last year was that we couldn’t score goals and honestly, we couldn’t argue with that case but in fairness, the ability of our full-forward line when they got the ball to be able to turn them into scores was key to the match this evening.”
And so the Clare minor rollercoaster rolls on for at least two more games after reaching a second consecutive provincial decider, with last year’s experience certain to aid the cause as it did on Friday evening.
“Really and truly, we didn’t know what we were going to be like until we turned up today and that’s the real pressure that was on the team. But in fairness, the experienced guys from last year, that diamond of Shanahan, Galvin Kelly and Tots [Cathal O’Connell], and Seadna Morey, they were unbelievable tonight to be fair to them.”
“Everything is a bonus from now on because the year opens up for us now. Tonight was do-or-die and was a real championship match because there is no backdoor. I know we are in a Munster final now and that was our goal from the outset to get back there again but ultimately the next day it’s not the end of the world whatever happens.
“Don’t get me wrong, we will do out damnedness the next day to defend our title but the pressure eases now and hopefully we can play with some freedom in the final.”