GAA:FOR ALL the encouragement of an unexpectedly vigorous challenge, it was still the task of Clare manager Ger O'Loughlin's to explain defeat. An unforgiving scoreboard made for a disappointing frame but he was ready to claim what kudos was there.
“Most of you guys wouldn’t have given us that chance – that we’d be up by six points after 10 minutes or 15 minutes. Again, most times in hurling matches goals win matches and we paid the price for giving away two soft goals to bring them back into it, but that’s something we have to learn quickly, that you can’t concede after a great start.
“We had a tremendous start, our hurling was very crisp, our tackling was ferocious, we looked a team. In saying that we left them back into it and against All-Ireland champions Tipp there’s never a panic button pressed. They’ll turn the screw on you if they get a chance and they got a couple against us. Hopefully we’ll learn from that.”
His views on referee James Owens’s reluctance to give frees were predictably not as positive. “Now, where do I start? I must say I was disappointed, I have to say that. I was very disappointed. I might be wrong but I think for 23 or 24 minutes we were entitled to three frees and we got none.
“We were well on top and I just felt we didn’t get the rub of the green from the ref. I got very frustrated with him. I thought a team like Clare needs a few breaks like that. I was only looking for what we thought on the sideline were frees to Clare.”
Man of the Match Pádraic Maher said the team had never lost its nerve, reassured that the forwards would do the needful as soon as they could be adequately supplied.
“We were under fierce pressure in the first few minutes,” he said, “but we knew we had the forward line capable of doing damage if we got the ball into them.
“We were sluggish but after a while we eventually got the ball in and with the likes of Séamie, Lar, Eoin and Noel we’ve got the forwards to tuck the goals away. Thankfully they did that and we’re glad to be in the Munster final.”
Manager Declan Ryan was happy to qualify for the Munster final in his first season in charge even if the inconsistency of the display was slightly concerning.
“We are delighted with the result but I suppose the performance in the first 20 minutes wouldn’t be what you’d be looking for in a Munster semi-final. But I was delighted the way we got the couple of goals to keep us in the game and we responded well to the challenge, so we’re delighted to be in a Munster final.
“There is a lot of composure in the group, there is a lot of experience. Even the younger guys, they are winners. They have competed at a very high level now for a number of years. That and the work-rate ethic that Tommy Dunne and Cian O’Neill have in them, I think that’s what paid off today.
“We are after having two good games and the Munster final will be a huge battle as well, there is no doubt about that. Waterford will be coming defending their Munster crown. But this is why the guys train so hard, for days like today and full credit to them the way they battled through it out there.”
Injury problems centre on full back Paul Curran, who played well but had to be withdrawn at the end. “We have to check it out,” said Ryan. “He has an ankle injury but I don’t know how serious it is.” He added it was too early to say whether last year’s All Star Brendan Maher would be fit to start the Munster final.
