THE ARRIVAL OF Donal Óg Cusack has been hailed as a factor in Clare’s hurling renaissance this spring.
Twelve months after being relegated from Division 1A of the Allianz hurling league, Clare clinched promotion from Division 1B on Sunday.
Clare’s coaching team was shaken up last winter with Cusack and Aonghus O’Brien drafted in while Paul Kinnerk returned to their ranks in January.
“They’re been all super,” outlined Clare forward John Conlon.
“Donal Óg has brought that bit of character and pure Cork cockiness in a way. It’s really stood to us. Aonghus O’Brien has been a massive addition as well.
“We had Paul (Kinnerk) around, he’s just a positive influence to everyone and everyone really enjoys him.
“In fairness to the new setup that Davy (Fitzgerald) has brought in this year, we can’t fault it. It’s second to none. Davy’s the nucleus behind it all. Everything seems to be going well so far and long may it continue.”
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After a frustrating couple of campaigns since their glorious All-Ireland win in 2013, Clare have been smarter in their approach to this season. It’s reaped a dividend with a pre-season Munster senior league win and Division 1B promotion now behind them.
“We were a bit cuter this year, we didn’t come back until later,” revealed Conlon.
“We tipped away before Christmas, did a lot of gym. We’ve just been motoring hard since January.
“We did a lot of stuff with our new strength and conditioning coach with Jimmy Payne and Kelvin (Harold). It’s really stood to us. We’re doing a lot of hurling the last few weeks. We’re just trying to peak right.
John Conlon in action against Limerick on Sunday. Mike Shaughnessy / INPHO
Mike Shaughnessy / INPHO / INPHO
“The last few years we’ve been going well in the league and last year we were only losing by a point or two in games. We just want to get over that line, we want to be a lot more ruthless. It (winning) is a habit.
“You can say what you like, if you’re losing by a point or two, there’s still that negative coming in to training on a Tuesday night. This year you’re going in, you’re happy and you’re trying to work on the things you did bad, where maybe you’re trying to force it the other way to get a win.”
In the Clare camp, relief was the primary emotion after Sunday’s win. Welcoming Limerick into Cusack Park ensured there would be a pressure cooker atmosphere with promotion on the line.
“There was a lot of pressure during the week,” admitted Conlon.
“That (Division 1A) is where you want to be, especially now it’s good preparation for the championship. It was a great game for us to get under our belts.
“Thank God we haven’t lost this year and that’s the way we want to keep it.”
And in the Clare dressing-room the return from injury of players like Podge Collins is another boost.
“Podge is just a bit of electricity that you want around the gang and around the group in terms of the clowning around the dressing-room he does,” stated Conlon.
“We barely had a week or two ago, 20 training. We had 14 lads on the sidelines. It’s just great to see all the lads coming back.
“Tony (Kelly) is back doing a bit of running, Seadna Morey and the lads that are kind of long term, it’s great to see them at training and working hard.”
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'Donal Og has brought that bit of character and pure Cork cockiness in a way. It's really stood to us.'
THE ARRIVAL OF Donal Óg Cusack has been hailed as a factor in Clare’s hurling renaissance this spring.
Twelve months after being relegated from Division 1A of the Allianz hurling league, Clare clinched promotion from Division 1B on Sunday.
Clare’s coaching team was shaken up last winter with Cusack and Aonghus O’Brien drafted in while Paul Kinnerk returned to their ranks in January.
“They’re been all super,” outlined Clare forward John Conlon.
“Donal Óg has brought that bit of character and pure Cork cockiness in a way. It’s really stood to us. Aonghus O’Brien has been a massive addition as well.
“We had Paul (Kinnerk) around, he’s just a positive influence to everyone and everyone really enjoys him.
“In fairness to the new setup that Davy (Fitzgerald) has brought in this year, we can’t fault it. It’s second to none. Davy’s the nucleus behind it all. Everything seems to be going well so far and long may it continue.”
After a frustrating couple of campaigns since their glorious All-Ireland win in 2013, Clare have been smarter in their approach to this season. It’s reaped a dividend with a pre-season Munster senior league win and Division 1B promotion now behind them.
“We were a bit cuter this year, we didn’t come back until later,” revealed Conlon.
“We tipped away before Christmas, did a lot of gym. We’ve just been motoring hard since January.
“We did a lot of stuff with our new strength and conditioning coach with Jimmy Payne and Kelvin (Harold). It’s really stood to us. We’re doing a lot of hurling the last few weeks. We’re just trying to peak right.
“The last few years we’ve been going well in the league and last year we were only losing by a point or two in games. We just want to get over that line, we want to be a lot more ruthless. It (winning) is a habit.
“You can say what you like, if you’re losing by a point or two, there’s still that negative coming in to training on a Tuesday night. This year you’re going in, you’re happy and you’re trying to work on the things you did bad, where maybe you’re trying to force it the other way to get a win.”
In the Clare camp, relief was the primary emotion after Sunday’s win. Welcoming Limerick into Cusack Park ensured there would be a pressure cooker atmosphere with promotion on the line.
“There was a lot of pressure during the week,” admitted Conlon.
“That (Division 1A) is where you want to be, especially now it’s good preparation for the championship. It was a great game for us to get under our belts.
“Thank God we haven’t lost this year and that’s the way we want to keep it.”
And in the Clare dressing-room the return from injury of players like Podge Collins is another boost.
“Podge is just a bit of electricity that you want around the gang and around the group in terms of the clowning around the dressing-room he does,” stated Conlon.
“We barely had a week or two ago, 20 training. We had 14 lads on the sidelines. It’s just great to see all the lads coming back.
“Tony (Kelly) is back doing a bit of running, Seadna Morey and the lads that are kind of long term, it’s great to see them at training and working hard.”
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