Clare's Shane O'Donnell after the All-Ireland SHC Semi-Final win over Kilkenny at Croke Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
It sounds simple, but Shane O'Donnell just knows these weeks must be enjoyed.
Getting ready for an All-Ireland SHC Final is a challenge O'Donnell is ready, willing, and able to embrace. "That’s my overriding thought process over the last couple of days, these weeks are something to be enjoyed," he says.
"Not to winding yourself on what ifs. There’s no point thinking now about throw in on Sunday.
"You prepare your body and do all the preparation you need to do over the next couple days. But it is something to be enjoyed."
O'Donnell flared to prominence as a hat-trick scoring hero in the 2013 replay against Cork. So, he is happy to assist any emerging player, who wants advice about dealing with challenges such an occasion might bring. “Yeah, we’ve chatted, but just at a very high level really," he responds.
"I just said take it in and enjoy it. Don’t feel guilty about enjoying these days. This is why you play hurling. So, we’ve just had that conversation at a high level.
Shane O'Donnell starred for Clare in the 2013 All-Ireland SHC Final replay. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
“These lads are incredible mature. Far more mature than we were at their age.”
O'Donnell, such a key figure for Clare, acknowledges that it is a different landscape compared to back in 2013. “It’s very different," O'Donnell remarks. "I’ve said it a couple of times to be honest.
"There is very little that is the same to 11 years ago. For myself, it’s so different in terms of how I prepare and how I think about these games.
“Even the position I was in, I didn’t think I was starting that game. So, the preparation and build up was completely different. There isn’t really that much inspiration I can draw from it.
“The only thing that is similar is the opposition and the size of the occasion. It never stops being something you’d be so delighted to win.”
It is Clare's first All-Ireland final since 2013. Back then it appeared as if Clare were set for a particularly successful period with an exciting crop of hurlers, but sport can be peculiar. "As I alluded to with the strange trajectory of my career maybe you do think that it’s going to be every year or you’re going to be up there in semi finals or finals competing every year," O'Donnell reflects.
Clare's Shane O'Donnell in All-Ireland SHC Semi-Final action against Kilkenny at Croke Park. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
“Obviously, it hasn’t been the case. It’s my first time back there. If we win, it will be one that I can categorically say I will enjoy a lot more than I did back in 2013.
“We won minors and Under 21s and then senior and it was just, it was a huge deal, but it was also just another year back then. Now, it’s different when it’s 10 years passed and you’re still playing.
“Also, I was this close to deciding not go back a couple of years ago. It was front and centre of my mind. I can’t believe my career has gone from - I win it and then I have to retire without getting that opportunity again. So that crossed my mind.”
During the past decade O'Donnell's role for Clare has altered. His current work as a half forward means O'Donnell remains an influential figure for the Banner. “I think it was very organic," he says about the newer role.
"I can’t exactly remember how it came about that I ended up at wing-forward instead of corner or full. It was probably just through sheer competition and places because there are a lot of very good forwards in our panel at the moment.
“So, I realise I was going to be out in the half forward line. I got a heavier hurley. I started just playing and training a little bit differently. That happened over a period of a couple of weeks. Then, it just kind of stuck.” O'Donnell is still going strong.
