21. You never met Biddy Earley but you know she was bad news
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
And she was responsible for the bad days like this in the 1993 Munster final. You still shudder at the scoreline – Tipperary 3-27 Clare 2-12
20. And you were there when her curse was finally lifted in 1995
Pic: INPHO/Tom Honan
A Munster title was followed by an All-Ireland triumph. Did you hear the Banner roar in Ennis at the homecoming?
19. You learnt from this man that Clare were no longer the whipping boys
YouTube: hjmartin1
A boy Dalo.
18. You have developed notions of becoming a pro surfer after a day in Lahinch
Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire
17. You feel ready for The Open after 18 holes on the links in Lahinch
Pic: INPHO/Getty Images
16. You are as passionate about your county as this man
Pic: INPHO/Patrick Bolger
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
15. And you’ve developed a fondness for Reading having spent time in a public house in Ennis
Twitter: @boyhunt via balls.ie
14. He wasn’t listed on the match programme but you remember Eamonn Taaffe for the greatest goal of all time in September 1995
YouTube: hockeyhurlingshinty3
The vital green flag that Clare raised in the 1995 All-Ireland final.
13. And you think this effort from Jamesie was the greatest point of all time
Go to 0.43
YouTube: LovelyHurling Ire
12. You’ve welcomed Trap to the Cliffs of Moher
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Trap kicks around with Paudie The Puffin, the Cliffs of Moher mascot.
11. You know that Donal Tuohy did not step outside the square for that puckout in the 2008 Munster U21 final
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
10. The cows on your family farm never got milked after this game on July 19th, 1992
Pic: INPHO
Francis McInerney lifts the cup after Clare’s 2-10 to 0-12 Munster final victory over Kerry.
9. The Cooraclare man at midfield was one of your heroes on that team
Pic: INPHO/Alan Betson
The one and only Tom Morrissey. A bit of a character.
8. They went to school in Limerick and played for Limerick clubs but you must point out that Keith Wood and Marcus Horan are CLARE natives
Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland
They learnt it all in Killaloe and Clonlara.
7. You’ve had this man (the one on the right) do MC at your club’s annual dinner dance
Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Marty at the Great Wall in China before the 2008 Olympic Games.
6. And you saw him hone his goalkeeping skills back in the day on the pitch in Quilty
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
5. You maintain that it was the Banner blood that made Ali the Greatest
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
Muhammad Ali visits Ennis in September 2009.
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
The inscription on the monument to commemorate Ali’s visit.
4. You will always wonder what would have happened if Jimmy Cooney had not called time early in 1998
Pic: INPHO/James Meehan
3. And while on the subject, you’d like to point that everyone was against Clare that summer
Ger Loughnane sits in the stand with Colin Lynch.
Pic: INPHO/Patrick Bolger
2. You believe these are the three wise men
Pic: INPHO/Tom Honan
1. And this is the Messiah
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Doris is the obvious choice. He is a guaranteed first choice in the starting XV in the years to come, a natural leader, cool-headed, disciplined, and he has an excellent rapport with referees.
@Brian Vales: I wasn’t expecting to see his name on the list, but it does make sense. I wonder though, why he has never been named as a captain before?(even for Leinster). I would like to see himself or Ringrose… but I have a sneaky suspicion it will be James Ryan. If it is, it will make or break him. POM deserves it, but it would be very much a short term, sentimental decision and I really don’t see the benefit.
@Brian Vales: 23 bit young yet
@Sèan: 25 ah mayby his time but i see ryan as captain
@Sèan: Lots of great captains start when they are early to mid twenties. McCaw, BOD and Dupont to name a few.
@Brian Vales: Nah, had a v quiet WC, he’ll be holding his place for a few seasons methinks, but captain? Dont be silly
@Paul Ennis: yes but we never name young captains and we never start young guys i mean aged 18 are 19 look scott penny still not capped
@Sèan: BOD was a young captain. Scott Penny may never be capped in a full blooded test and that’s nothing to do with age, more to do with size. We don’t take the risks that England, NZ and SA might take with a young player, but then our resources (of young starlets) are much thinner. Young players tend to be a little more fragile so the Irish setups like to mind them for longer. Not saying the Irish way is better, but it works for us and leads to a maximum % of our U20s completing the journey into professionalism.
@Paul Ennis: yes i agree hopefully it willchange
Ryan for me
@Sèan: If it aint broken
@Thesaltyurchin: had an amazing last few years hope he will be back good as new
@Sèan: Cant agree. still think he has form to find. but do agree he should be captain moving forward.
@Thesaltyurchin: being world class last 2 years didnt have a great game v SA and all the fans saying this haha crazy
@Sèan: I think Ryan’s game sometimes suffers with the extra responsibilities of captaincy.
@John Morris: mayby
Good big leadership group with Furlong, Ryan, Henderson, Doris, VDF, Ringrose, Aki, Keenan to name but a few. Probably Ryan for me. Would prefer a captain from the pack. Special mention to Aki, he really lead by example in this tournament and was superb and inspiring.
@Arjuna: hopefully aki at 33 has lot more years sexton 38 aki be 37 next world cup
The usual suspects, but 2027 is not an option for some and surely it’s a 4yr plan, not a 2yr fix? How about ‘none of the above’ ? Although there’s no need for wholesale changes in playing personnel in the immediate term, a refreshed psyche might be just what we need to go back to back slams for the first time and make 2024 an unbeaten year.
@John Morris: Has to be someone though. And who can be certain of their place in the team for the next 4 years? (I’d say the answer to that question is Porter and Sheehan btw). Personally I’d go for Ringrose – also helps that he usually plays the full 80 minutes
@Kevin Ryan: I’ll give you Garry on mature reflection!
Ryan is the safe choice here but I could see others coming up in the next cycle as outside bets , the likes of Penny & Prendergast could be knocking on the captaincy door by 2026
@Owen ODonoghue: one game at a time
The first task of the new captain is to take on a wounded France in defence of our 6N’s title. Be prepared for an experienced player like Pete, JR, or Henderson.
The issue with Ryan is that he is no longer a nailed on starter for Ireland and you cannot skipper a team from the bench. Peter O’Mahony is the obvious choice at least for next season
@john buckley: why he longer nailed starter last two years he has being amaxing one so called poor game v SA and all saying this
He has never been dropped before – particularly for what was, at the time, a vital game. I am not saying that he will not regain his place but he has to show more more than his recent displays in France, which got him benched in the first place. He may be better off, at least in the short term, concentrating on himself, without the additional pressure of being captain.
@john buckley: ok but he has beingworld class last 2 years had one bad game must remember you cant play brillent every game could say that about every player right