For the first time in the Brian Lohan era, Clare won silverware by winning the National Hurling League title, beating Kilkenny 3-16 to 1-20 in a thriller under the Semple Stadium lights.
It was ideal prep for the onslaught of the Munster round robin and the visit of age-old rivals Limerick to Ennis on 28 April. Centre-back and 2023 All-Star John Conlon was fully aware of the task ahead in two weeks when speaking after the game to TG4 pundit Naoise Waldron.
Conlon said he was delighted with the win and what it means for the Clare locals.
“It’s a great achievement for the county,” the Clonlara man said.
“We’ve only ever won four of them. Every time you get to the final, you want to win it, even if it’s a game of cards. Whatever you play, you want to win. It's only a stepping stone towards championship in two weeks.
You can see what it means to the Clare people and you can see what it means to us as players; getting a national medal is nice.”
You Can Never Write Off The Cats
It was Clare's second victory over Kilkenny in 2024, which felt meaningful considering the Cats have defeated the Banner in the last two All-Ireland semifinals. The 2022 match swung when Conlon picked up a knock in the warm-up and could line out. The 2023 semifinal will be remembered for Brian Lohan's decision to play Seadna Morey as a sweeper in the first half. Kilkenny lead by five at the break, and though Clare blasted back into the game in the second half after ditching the sweeper, Kilkenny won by three.
When Waldron asked Conlon whether Clare would take a high physiological advantage after losing to the Cats in the 2022 and 2023 All-Ireland semi-finals, the Clonlara man acknowledged the debate over those tactical choices.
“The last two years, I suppose, we might have got things wrong maybe? I don’t know,” Conlon said
“People might say well you played a sweeper last year, and but I would say that we didn’t have the best performance that we didn't have in a long time in the second half. Also listen great save by Eoin Murphy that decides the game. You saw it there again in the game today: a great save by Eibar.
You never know. With Kilkenny, they never get out of a game. They always come back with something, and they put us to the pin of our collars at the end, but fair to the lads, they put their shoulder to the wheel. It was a great workout, and it was great to get a medal in a lations.”
Scór Lán-Ama #CLAvKIK@GaaClare 3-16@KilkennyCLG 1-20
'It's another stepping stone towards championship'
Smaointe John Conlon tar éis Craobh na Sraithe a bhuachan.👏 #AllianzLeagues #GAABeo pic.twitter.com/SOtbrrk7po— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) April 6, 2024
