Clonlara won their third ever Clare Senior Hurling Championship title with a five-point victory over Crusheen on Sunday.
It was the first time that the club have claimed the Canon Hamilton Cup since 2008. A moment in the dressing room following Clonlara's victory in the 2022 senior B final was a turning point for the team.
"We've had few years where things haven't gone our way," Man of the Match Micheal O’Loughlin told TG4.
"Beaten by Ballyea, a good team, beaten by a good 'Bridge team.
"We really gathered ourselves after winning three senior B's in a row. We were laughed at and decided... John Conlon was like an absolute lunatic in the dressing room when we won the senior B last year. He said, 'Is this where we want to be?'
"We went back training in November and it's amazing - things can happen - amazing things can just happen. [There was] complete and utter buy-in. From the very moment that we decided we'd go back in November last year, the buy-in was just from one to 36.
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"A few lads went away travelling, did their thing in the summer, about three or four of the starting team, but lads changed flights, came back after a month when they were supposed to go for three months.
"The moment you come back is unbelievable. I was away for myself for a few weeks and I'll never forget the difference. I came back the night before the Sixmilebridge game in the group and I was in awe at what the team had gone to.
"We've done an awful lot of work behind the scenes. We have a psychologist with us this year and I think she deserves... Unbelievable work... Nollaig Brophy. You hear the Limerick lads on about Caroline Currid, it's not really until you see it in your own team and have complete and utter buy-in that you can see what it can do for a team."
22 October 2023; Clonlara captain Jathan McMahon lifts the cup after the Clare County Senior Club Hurling Championship final between Clonlara and Crusheen at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
When Conlon and fellow inter-county panel member Ian Galvin returned to club training after Clare's defeat to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final, they realised something special had been brewing while they were away.
"It's a special moment," Conlon told Clare FM about the win.
"15 years is a long time. Meeting all the lads I soldiered with back in 2008 and to see all the joy that's in their faces... To be the only one left, it's a nice accolade.
"We were away with Clare, myself and Ian. When we lost to Kilkenny, that week we went back to the group. Ian turned to me and said, 'There's something special going on here'. All we needed to do was row in behind it, make it a bit better, and that's what we did.
"We were re-enacting a photo that we took 15 years ago. My uncle Mick isn't around any more. That was a lovely photo that we have with his nephew in it. It's something different. To take a picture with my own brother who wasn't part of the panel back then, he was only a little lad. Those are special moments."
22 October 2023; Ian Galvin of Clonlara in action against Luke Hayes of Crusheen during the Clare County Senior Club Hurling Championship final between Clonlara and Crusheen at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
For Clonlara manager Donal Madden, Sunday's victory was a moment of redemption. In the 2009 final, his misplaced pass led to a late goal which gave Cratloe victory over Clonlara.
"On a personal level, it means so much," he said.
"2009, every day I think about it. Down there in the bottom corner with 30 seconds to go, and I had the ball in my hand... I swore I'd do everything for the club to make up for that.
"Ger there is my best friend and he felt the same. We were chatting this morning and I said, 'Ger, we've got to make up for 2009 because that hurt us so much'.
"Everywhere that I went for the next 10 years, I kept being reminded 'Oh, are you the guy that cost Clonlara?' I got seven points in a previous final and people forgot about that. Tonight, I can sleep happy because that is put to bed."
#GAABEO Lán Ama
"Since November of last year there was complete and utter buy in!"
Is e Micheál O'Loughlin Laoch na hImeartha inniu! - Comhghairdeas leat Micheál!@clonlaragaaclub | @GaaClare
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/SsvUl4QLBi
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 22, 2023
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