Cusack Park will be rocking this weekend as Clare continue their Munster Hurling Championship campaign against Waterford and Shane O’Donnell is expecting an electric atmosphere at the Ennis venue.
Clare played out a classic encounter against Munster and All-Ireland champions Limerick at the same stadium just four weeks ago when the Treaty County came from behind to steal a three-point triumph over Brian Lohan’s side.
O’Donnell, the PwC Player of the Month for April in hurling, scored 0-1 on the day and followed that up with a further 1-1 as Clare overcame Cork in the second round by three in another magnificent match up.
“They're incredible occasions to be a part of,” said the 29-year-old, a two-time All-Star winner, of the big championship games held in Cusack Park.
“I know you get the opportunity to play in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Thurles, or even Croke Park, and they're a fantastic stadiums to play at. But sometimes playing in Cusack Park, where you've wanted to play your entire life, essentially, where it's absolutely jammed to the rafters with Clare fans, is an equally exceptional opportunity.
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“It's something that we'll be certainly looking forward to at the weekend. The Clare support has been brilliant over the last couple of years, and I think there's really been that connection between our panel, our management, and those supporters.
“I think it's never felt more acutely than when we get the opportunity to play in Cusack Park, so we’re all really looking forward to that. It's brilliant to bring these crowds to Ennis and to bring people into the middle of the town.
21 April 2024; Shane O'Donnell of Clare is tackled by Barry Nash of Limerick during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 1 match between Clare and Limerick at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
“I read somewhere that after the Limerick game, the traffic through in the town, I'm not sure if it was the pubs and the cafes and things like that, people were likening it to the week before Christmas.
“That's the kind of traffic and the volume of people that are around the town and getting to experience everything that Ennis has to offer and then obviously, on top of that, the occasion inside Cusack Park itself.
“There's a brilliant day every time that we get these games, and I think since the round robin has been introduced these home and away games, almost everyone has been better for them.”
Clare have already collected one piece of silverware this season having claimed the Division One title, stretching their unbeaten streak to seven games on the bounce with a two-point victory over Kilkenny in the decider.
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The Banner County finished at the top of the league, earning four wins from their five outings, with a round three draw away to Wexford the only blot on their otherwise perfect record, before seeing off Tipperary and Kilkenny in the semi-final and final.
“It's certainly been a factor,” added O’Donnell of the confidence his side has taken into the championship. “We had to contend with a two-week break between that league final and the first round of the championship, so that was challenging from a physical perspective.
“But psychologically it does certainly give you that confidence and having turned over Kilkenny as well is also a positive. I know it's somewhat a cliché to say it's only the league, but it was a result that we wanted to win.
“We wanted to beat Kilkenny in that game, and that was something that we were certainly able to draw some confidence from.
“But it's probably something that maybe physically hindered us a small bit, but we've kind of got through the acute phase of that, I would say, as well, so it certainly is something to draw some confidence from.”
PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for April in hurling, Shane O’Donnell of Clare, with his award at PwC offices in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
