Shane O'Donnell had to be subbed after 40 minutes of Éire Óg's crunch group stage win over Clonlara on Sunday, having suffered another hamstring injury.
The hurler-of-the-year-elect injured his hamstring on the week of Clare's All-Ireland win over Cork back in July, curtailing his preparations and making for a very nervy build-up to the game.
He recovered in time to play a crucial role in the Banner's triumph but spoke afterwards of the worry it created for him in the days beforehand.
“Tuesday evening I thought I was 100pc gone,” he said.
“I had a 50pc chance of playing, there or thereabouts.
"Even in the first five minutes I ended up in a situation chasing Shane Barrett and I couldn’t commit to the run because the hamstring could have went and it was too early in the game."
"It was maybe playing on my mind a small bit earlier in the game. It was there. There was no point where I was, ‘Yeah, I feel great.’ It was a terrible week," he said.
O'Donnell has been back in action for his club Éire Óg Inis in recent weeks, scoring 1-1 in both of their games so far, in a victory over Clooney Quin a fortnight ago and again against Clonlara on Sunday.
The 30-year-old showed the class he's been showing all year to raise that green flag against county champions Clonlara on Sunday, helping his team to a 1-23 to 1-20 win.
25 August 2024; Shane O'Donnell of Éire Óg with coach John Russell after the Clare Senior Hurling Club Championship Group 1 Round 2 match between Clonlara and Éire Óg Ennis at Pairc an Dalaigh in Tulla, Clare. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
But the showing did come at a cost for the forward and his club as he limped off at the two thirds mark of the game holding his left hamstring.
"He's a bit disconsolate now at the moment," reflected manager Gerry O'Connor on TG4 afterwards.
"He went for a ball over there and he felt it so look we couldn't take any more risks on that.
"He's in a little bit of bother but we'll re-assess things again later on this evening," added the former joint-manager of Clare.
O'Donnell pulled up in the corner forward position after an intense passage of play early but his team-mates held on for a deserved victory.
It leaves them on top of the so-called group-of-death with two wins from two and while they are not yet guaranteed a place in the knock-outs, they are in pole position ahead of a final round clash with Tony Kelly's Ballyea.
Veteran Danny Russell was sublime for Éire Óg, scoring 0-11 (0-6 frees) on the day with O'Connor hailing his contribution.
"Danny was superb. Absolutely. I'm really proud of Danny. We met Danny about eight months ago and the guy was really anxious to put in a savage performance for one last year, and we are thrilled that he did."
"Nothing guaranteed yet," reflected O'Connor. but it's probably the first time in a long time...we like to make things difficult for ourselves but we have eased the burden here today."
Take a look back on O'Donnell's incredible goal here.
31 nóim @GAA_BEO@clonlaragaaclub 1-12@CLGEireOgInis 1-14
Cé eile ach Shane O'Donnell le cúl do Éire Óg 🐐
Shane O'Donnell puts his side ahead with a massive goal!
Beo / Live ar @TG4TV 📺@GaaClare #GAABeo pic.twitter.com/fP8oWdsNG2
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) August 25, 2024
