Looking back to the replay All-Ireland that gave Clare county a magical twilight victory in 2013, former Ballyea manager, Robbie Hogan, reminisces the event. It was a time that instilled hope in the hearts of himself, his wife and children that they would experience such winning moments very often. Unfortunately, that has not been the case; in the subsequent 11 years, Clare hasn’t had another chance to relive that victory.
As Clare prepares to revisit its rivalry with Cork this weekend, some of the players from that victorious evening will get on the field once again. Regrettably, in these proceeding years, those initial triumphant moments have become merely singular, and painful reminders of what has not been repeated since. The team hasn’t had another shot at the final or the possibility of experiencing victory once more.
Tony Kelly, the epitome of the young and talented 2013 Clare team, especially, must have carried the burden of these unfulfilled expectations. At just 19, he achieved immense acknowledgment following that season, including two All-Irelands (Senior and under-21), All Star, Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year.
In a recent turn of events a fortnight back, Kelly, now at 30 and captaining the team, was able to shake off a lacklustre first half performance to secure a much-needed win over Kilkenny, who had defeated them in the past two All-Ireland semi-finals. This came after a difficult year filled with injuries and surgery. His late contribution of two points made the decisive difference.
He will proceed onto another final along with David McInerney, John Conlon and Shane O’Donnell, all survivors from the 2013 team. But Kelly’s path hasn’t been smooth. Over the past years, he has battled injuries with broken ankles and dipped form. He initially appeared against Limerick in the first championship match but was absent until the Munster final.
In the 1990s, James O’Connor was considered as the top player to block when aiming to topple Clare in two All-Ireland-winning years, fulfilling the role similar to Kelly in the hurling field. Alongside Kelly, Brendan Bugler – a county selector, and Ballyea hurler Jack Brown, are all part of the famed hurling school St Flannan’s in Ennis, where O’Connor is also a staff member.
O’Connor shared his belief that any lingering doubts in Kelly’s career were put to rest by his recent performance. If Kelly hadn’t concluded his career in the manner he did, he may have ended up feeling unaccomplished, reflected O’Connor. He acknowledged the sporadic brilliant moments during the years when Kelly’s performance wasn’t consistent.
Compliments were also in place for Brian Lohan, Clare’s manager, who he stated has been successful in his approach since his induction. Kelly has also impressed with his physical form during the Covid period and demonstrated extraordinary performance for three consecutive years, something very few players could replicate under high pressure, added O’Connor.
O’Connor credited other players stepping up, such as Shane O’Donnell, resulting in reduced pressure on Kelly. This year’s victories in the league and the Cork match became crucial without the presence of their star player in a crucial game at Pairc Uí Chaoimh, relieving further pressure off Kelly.
Contrary to any misinterpretations, the period from 2013 to 2020 wasn’t an aimless era. Kelly managed to bag another All-Ireland under-21, a national league medal, win a Munster club with Ballyea, a first Fitzgibbon with UL and almost reaching the 2018 All-Ireland final, narrowly losing to Galway.
Colm Bonnar, former All-Ireland winner of Tipperary, who was also a coach for Waterford IT in the 2015 final, recalls the high expectations set for Kelly as he managed to extend UL’s playtime at the last minute.
In the midst of dreadful weather, Fitzgibbon exemplified the truest form of perseverance – grit and victory. Standing over a daunting free, roughly 75 to 80 meters away, he presented an instance of a player stepping up in adverse circumstances. Against expectations, he slotted the ball over the bar, all while half muttering to himself a grateful expletive directed towards one of the Waterford players.
The introduction of former All-Ireland champion Brian Lohan as manager seems to have reintroduced the high standards Kelly had previously established. A particularly memorable game, according to ex-club manager Hogan, was against Limerick during the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020. Kelly’s stellar performance in scoring 0-17, eight from play equalling the championship record, against the nation’s top side truly set a high bar, even amidst the team’s overall struggles.
The thrilling 2022 Munster final against Limerick was pushed into extra time courtesy of another conversion by Kelly from a sideline, obtained under immense pressure, but from a sharp angle. Hogan recalls his dedication to perfecting his game, often practising line balls even when the floodlights were turned off after rigorous training sessions. Seeing no option to pass to a team-mate, Kelly took it upon himself to score, exhibiting his skill and determination once again.
Despite the fact that Clare has not reached an All-ireland final, Kelly’s impressive performances have placed him in contention for the Hurler of the Year title for three consecutive seasons. Nonetheless, with him essentially carrying Clare, this year has seen certain changes. As he returns to the limelight at this stage of his career, he is bound to feel the pressure.
James O’Connor states that the best players always shoulder the weight of expectations from a relatively early age. He added that the second successful act is always the sweetest because, by then, you have matured and understand what it truly requires.