Clare GAA Discussion - 2024 All Ireland Hurling Champions

Fail to perpare...very large panels that weren't cut down and focused. Some really good people involved so the question that should be asked what did they do wrong and were their hands tied.

Forget the U20 championship. it's a joke without the top players. I don't even bother watching it as it's not of any value anymore.

I agree, the ruling is a joke altogether. Cork brought on Alan Connolly for the last few minutes against Limerick and he can't play u20s either.

I would say not one of these palyers ever had a competitive match in a clare jersey. I dont' think this group even played in a forrestal competition. With the exception of those that played for Flannans there was very few who have experienced top level hurling. That is not all the fault of the county board. The management of this team are not really at fault, perhaps they could have been more ruthless in cutting panels but that's hard to do. We have a long way to go to relearn how to make a winning team at this level and below.

Caherlohan... Centre of Average...

Caherlohan... Centre of Average...

The reality is the whole system is out of date and piecemeal.. I would ignore the CUL camps. That's a good system of childminding but it has young people out doing going things.

It's as simple as this, we have a relatively small hurling popultion at underage. We depend on a surge of excellent hurlers at any point whereas Tipp, Cork and Kiikenny have a larger supply line.

The mantra for the past few years has been to make sure the average hurler who could progress gets a chance. But in reality what has happenend is standards for the most talented has dropped. You can't train 60 the same as 30. At some point you have to make a cut and create competition.

If you look at Rugby now, if you aren't making the grade at 16, then you are making it as an adult as all the resources are pumped in to the elites. That's not good either. There is no way these minors are as bad as a 40 point defeat. There is a fundanmental problem there, that is more to do with structure than talent.

It's like it was being set up for someone to step in and take over to 'sort it out'. I wonder who that might have been.....$$$$

I wouldn't disagree with any of that. Honestly, I don't get to underage club games much, I only see the final product at intercounty level. But either way, it has become very apparent how under-developed our lads are compared to the likes of Limerick/Cork/Tipp in recent minor/U20/21 games. I don't lay the blame with the players as such, it's very hard to win games when you competing with teams that are stronger, faster, fitter than you. I believe you are right, there is probably a lack of accountability and standards in Clare GAA, but I would feel also the structures aren't good enough either. For example (and shoot me down if you disagree), the management shouldn't have to run trials with 60 odd players, only a few months before the championship. If the right structures were in place, you would know your core group of players from past underage teams and be only tinkering with squad by this year.

Theres nothing wrong with having trials. It's another way of puting players against one another if done fairly. The Club, School etc. can be distorted also so all means can be used. But.. what has to be done is to find the way to get the best 30 competing for places and also to find the best 15 from that. When it comes down to it, a county management team has to bite the bullet and say to parents and underage players that at this time you aren't making the panel, but that can change in time. One way or another, there has to be a change in approach..

I reckon it started with thos go game soft sliotars... Townie balls we called them.......(incoming!)

Clare Team:

E Quilligan

R Hayes C Cleary P Flanagan

D Ryan J Conlon P Fitzpatrick

C Galvin C Malone

A Shanagher T Kelly A McCarthy

D Reidy I Galvin R Taylor

It really time David McInerney started for Clare now over Paidi Fitz, and I’d be surprised if there isn’t a late change. Paidi is an honest lad but he struggled the last day on Breen.

We need Shanagher to go well tomorrow I feel. I see things being very tit-for-tat around midfield with the mid third full of bodies. If it was up to me, I’d bring in Rodgers and have a 2 pronged full forward for direct ball to be played into. It’s going to be absolutely scorching hot tomorrow, having an effective brand of hurling that lets the ball do the work will surely be the way to go. Nonetheless Lohan has to use his bench more in this game.

There’ll be plenty of switches tomorrow I’d say. We definitely won’t got with a mostly conventional 3 inside full forward line like we did versus Tipp. I agree with you in having Kelly playing out the field. Probably Galvin and Shanagher together up top. I want to see Shanagher more central tomorrow. He played his best game in the league versus Wexford, hopefully this is the game he comes good for us.

I think with Shanagher, Lohan should take a leaf out of how Cody used Colin Fennelly. Both Shanagher and Fennelly have clear technical issues with their striking. What I like with Cody, is that he coached Fennelly to usually just turn and run at the blackspot. Fennelly was a wing forward underage and he move him to the edge of the square. And it was very effective. When I see Shanagher, yes he striking is poor, but one can see his confidence it dropping and he is second guessing his shot selection. As I’ve said before, I’d be simplifying things down for him. He has great natural size and athleticism, I’d be putting him in situations that hurts teams with those traits.