Brian Lohan: 'We get a response from our supporters'

By Cian O'Connell

Brian Lohan is fully aware that there is something special about All-Ireland SHC Final day.

Clare and Cork will bring colour and hope to Croke Park on Sunday. Lohan, who won two All-Irelands during a glittering playing career, accepts that the occasion needs to be embraced by those involved.

Remaining focused, though, is crucial according to Lohan. "There is great excitement in it, but it is a game that you have to enjoy the excitement that is there, try to embrace it, while at the same time keep at the back of your head that this is a really competitive game," Lohan says.

"It is a game that everyone wants to be there, but nobody wants to be in a losing team in an All-Ireland final. It is worse than losing a semi-final, it is worse than losing a quarter-final. It is a bad place to be.

"While you're conscious of enjoying it, you do want to stay concentrated, you want to be tuned in to get the best out of yourself, to show your best abilities on that big day."

Getting to the decider was crucial for Clare, who suffered semi-final losses to Kilkenny in 2022 and 2023. In April Clare defeated Kilkenny in the Allianz Hurling League showpiece.

How relevant was that triumph? "I suppose when you get to championship, it doesn't really matter what happens in the league, but from our perspective and from the group perspective, it was a big deal for us," Lohan responds.

"We were delighted to win that league, particularly when we had lost to Kilkenny in the two previous big games that we had played against them. So, it was a big deal for us, but not really relevant for last weekend."

Lohan is encouraged that some emerging players have delivered for Clare in recent years. The fact that some flourished in the league is satisfactory. "Inter-county hurling you need that experience in the leagues," Lohan says.

"You have to. It is a big deal playing inter-county hurling now. When you're coming into any of the top teams, you are up against the top teams, the way the competitions are tiered. You have your Munster League, your league and then your championship.

"There is a big difference between your Munster League and your National Hurling League. It is an opportunity for guys coming on the panel, we use that competition in January, the Munster League, to try to get players that are showing up in the local club championship, to give them a Clare jersey, to see how they perform.

"Some of them do really well and are able to progress to a National League team and obviously on to a championship team. We've seen one or two examples of that this year and we are delighted with it."

The connection between Clare's supporters and the team always counted in the Ger Loughnane era when Lohan's raking clearances drew guttural roars. Now, Lohan is in a different role, but he senses the possibilities that exist to develop the game further in the county. "What I find is we have a great brand - Clare hurling is in the county," Lohan remarks.

"It is brilliant to be involved in Clare hurling, it always has been brilliant to be involved in Clare hurling. I think our supporters, there is a real affinity with the team, with the individuals on the team. They see the work they're doing, how committed they are.

"Every day that they go out they give it all. We get a response from our supporters, then. I don't know what the figures were, but I'd say would it have been three to one, four to one, or five to one, above at the semi-final the last day.

"That was from a team that was probably very disappointed with how we played in the Munster Final. Both matches against Limerick we made some mistakes, but they were still willing to support the team and get behind the team.

"I think there is that affinity there, we are conscious of that, and we are delighted with it, but it has to be respected too."

Lohan is connecting the past, present, and future of Clare hurling.