This article is from page 120 of the 2009-03-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 120 JPG
TWO games and no points but Clare senior and intermediate manager Bertie Sherlock was far from disillu- sioned from his opening competitive outing in his native Tipperary. Quite the opposite in fact as he consoled and encouraged his downhearted players leaving the field before wax- ing lyrical about both squads’ effort and commitment.
‘The two sides I thought were un- real today. The intermediates were
brilliant and then the seniors came out facing Tipp, who were back-to- back All-Ireland champions not so long ago and still amongst the top three or four teams in the country, and really put it up to them today. The players will go away disappoint- ed today because we should have won this game but in saying that, they were absolutely brilliant. Every girl worked like beavers, hooking and blocking in the air or on the ground, you couldn’t ask for anymore. I was over the moon with them.”
Sherlock’s long afternoon began with the intermediate game, a match that will be remembered as much for the snowstorms as the play but the Toomevara refused to use the condi- tions as an excuse for the defeat.
“It was unfortunate really. We had snow throughout the first half and it was a struggle. We were already play- ing into a strong wind and we clawed them back inch by inch but still, Tip- perary came out on top. In saying that, what’s good for the goose was good for the gander today because
the wind didn’t make any difference with the conditions. That’s just the way it goes but I’m still overjoyed by the attitude.” However, it was in the senior game that Clare really ex- celled, stiffling the home side with a spirited hard working performance, only to see victory dashed by a soft late goal. Sherlock though is con- vinced that this game will stand to Eee eyr es KoeNerKCe
“The girls have gone into the dress- ing rooms fierce disappointed but really they needn’t be disappointed
because they didn’t let down Clare today, they had great pride in the jer- sey. I really thought they were out- standing.”
And with Kilkenny to come this weekend, there 1s no time to dwell on those defeats.
“Those performances there today will be huge for Clare camogie as it shows that they can compete at the top with the best. The confidence gained from today will be very im- portant going forward and they will fear no-one.