Sport

Head-to-Head: The goalkeepers

(Clare) Age: 25. Height: 5 6["]. Weight: 11st. Club: Sixmilebridge

Tue Sept 09 1997 - 01:00

(Clare) Age: 25. Height: 5 6["]. Weight: 11st. Club: Sixmilebridge. Honours: All-Ireland SHC 1995, Munster SHC 1995, '97, All-Ireland club SHC 1996, Munster club SHC 1995, Munster MHC 1989.

Championship debut: v Limerick 1990.

Appearances 1997: Four. Substituted 1997: Not to date.

Goals conceded 1997: Two (one v Kerry, Munster first round; one v Kilkenny, All Ireland semi-final).

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Reaction to the season? "A great season, beating Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny and to have another shot at Tipperary again. Fantastic." Most memorable match this season? "Anytime you beat Cork, Tipperary or Kilkenny, it's memorable. They're the kingpins. Every match was special in itself, I couldn't put one above the other. Most difficult? "I think the Cork one, to tell you the truth. Cork were written off coming into the match, but we knew they had prepared hard. It's a good job Ger Loughnane focused us so well on that because if he didn't, we were in trouble." Best of the rest? "I rate Cork as an up-and-coming team and I think they have the players who can do it for them in the future." League and championship reforms? "I think the League has to be looked at. It's turned into a complete farce now. Earlier on it was fantastic with the crowds excellent and great matches. It has to be finished before the championship is begun.

"The championship? I'd say a lot of players feel the same. If you're out, you're out, as simple as that. Having said that, if Tipperary beat us in the All-Ireland final, fair play to them. They'll have beaten us in a final and they'll deserve it. We'll be as fired up as them to prove that we are worthy Munster champions."

Insider's view: Ger Loughnane (Clare manager) - "I suppose the competition at the moment is between himself and Damien Fitzhenry (Wexford) as to who's the best goalie in the country. Fitzy's outstanding, he's every skill in the game and incredible determination and a fanatical will to win. You couldn't say he's been severely tested in any game this year apart from his brilliant penalty save in the semifinal against Kilkenny." Outsider's view: Jimmy Barry Murphy (Cork manager) - "We didn't threaten his goal that often, but I remember a particularly good save from Alan Browne when he deflected the shot over the bar for a point. He's very agitated, always onto his backs - and pressuring the umpires over wides - and a real livewire with great reflexes and a great puck-out."