CLARE COACH DÓNAL Óg Cusack will find himself behind enemy lines on Sunday afternoon in Thurles.
The legendary Cork figure lifted five Munster titles and three All-Irelands with his beloved Rebels during his playing career, but this weekend he’ll be plotting their downfall as part of the Banner’s backroom team.
The presence of Diarmuid ‘The Rock’ O’Sullivan in the opposite corner to Cusack adds a layer of intruige to an already fascinating encounter. Both men hail form the Cloyne club in Cork and soldiered alongside one another on the hurling field for decades.
All loyalties will be set aside for 70 minutes in Semple Stadium. Clare’s joint manager Donal Moloney has no worries about where Cusack’s allegiances lie.
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“He is the ultimate professional,” Moloney said of the ex-Cork goalkeeper. “He has a grá for this job now. He has a grá for the county, Dónal Óg is one of those guys who immerses himself, whether it was his work for the GPA, as a goalkeeper for Cork, or all the different projects he has been involved in, whether 11-a-side in America or whatever.
“He is a guy of great resources or capability. He has immersed himself in our set-up. He is great fun to work with as well. He has a great dry wit, great humour which is very helpful at times.”
Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
Davy Fitzgerald’s departure from the Clare job last year prompted speculation that Cusack would follow him out the door, but Moloney said they were keen to keep him on board.
“We had heard that a lot of what Dónal Óg did last year was very well received in terms of the management and the players. We would have known that.
“We would have seen an improvement in the U21 players in terms of their skill set, so from that perspective, having someone like that, from having the experience of working with him last year, that was really, really important.
“I worked with Donal og for some time, first meeting him back in 2004. He has brought a huge amount to Clare. It was great foresight on Davy’s behalf to bring him in last year because he brings focus on skill development that I think is really important, a critical part of the game.
“He really values that because of the teams he was part of were renowned for their skill and their touch. He sees that as the difference between a team going up a level.”
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'He is the ultimate professional. He has a grá for this job. He has a grá for the county'
CLARE COACH DÓNAL Óg Cusack will find himself behind enemy lines on Sunday afternoon in Thurles.
The legendary Cork figure lifted five Munster titles and three All-Irelands with his beloved Rebels during his playing career, but this weekend he’ll be plotting their downfall as part of the Banner’s backroom team.
The presence of Diarmuid ‘The Rock’ O’Sullivan in the opposite corner to Cusack adds a layer of intruige to an already fascinating encounter. Both men hail form the Cloyne club in Cork and soldiered alongside one another on the hurling field for decades.
All loyalties will be set aside for 70 minutes in Semple Stadium. Clare’s joint manager Donal Moloney has no worries about where Cusack’s allegiances lie.
“He is the ultimate professional,” Moloney said of the ex-Cork goalkeeper. “He has a grá for this job now. He has a grá for the county, Dónal Óg is one of those guys who immerses himself, whether it was his work for the GPA, as a goalkeeper for Cork, or all the different projects he has been involved in, whether 11-a-side in America or whatever.
“He is a guy of great resources or capability. He has immersed himself in our set-up. He is great fun to work with as well. He has a great dry wit, great humour which is very helpful at times.”
Davy Fitzgerald’s departure from the Clare job last year prompted speculation that Cusack would follow him out the door, but Moloney said they were keen to keep him on board.
“We had heard that a lot of what Dónal Óg did last year was very well received in terms of the management and the players. We would have known that.
“We would have seen an improvement in the U21 players in terms of their skill set, so from that perspective, having someone like that, from having the experience of working with him last year, that was really, really important.
“I worked with Donal og for some time, first meeting him back in 2004. He has brought a huge amount to Clare. It was great foresight on Davy’s behalf to bring him in last year because he brings focus on skill development that I think is really important, a critical part of the game.
“He really values that because of the teams he was part of were renowned for their skill and their touch. He sees that as the difference between a team going up a level.”
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