Tony Kelly of Clare poses for a portrait with the Liam MacCarthy cup during the national launch of the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship at Spanish Point in Clare. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
Tony Kelly believes Clare’s defeat to Limerick in the Munster SHC Final exposed areas for improvement ahead of Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Wexford.
Top of the list is to be more clinical with the scoring chances that come their way than they were in the second-half of that six-point defeat to Limerick when they missed some big opportunities.
“Looking at the Munster Final, even during the game while I was playing it I thought our efficiency at times wasn't good enough,” says Kelly.
“When you're playing the top teams you need to be really, really efficient. And when you get your purple patch you need to make use of it.
“We had a few missed opportunities 10 or 15 minutes into second-half where if we had taken them instead of it being a four-point game it's a one or two-point game and you could have a swing in the momentum.
“So, I definitely think efficiency and decision-making up front is something we can improve on. I just thought against Limerick when we were trying to hang in there and close the gap that was one area we fell down on a bit.
“You can't be lagging behind like that when you're playing a Limerick or a Kilkenny or a Cork, you have to be on it with your decision-making and shooting.
“We didn't put Limerick under as much pressure on the score-board as we needed to.”
Kelly made his first start of the year for Clare in the Munster Final and was one of their better performers, scoring three points from play.
The road back from the ankle surgery he underwent before Christmas was a frustrating one at times, but he always believed he’d be able to recover in time to help Clare’s championship challenge.
“Yeah, frustrating enough but I know from early in the winter what was ahead of me in terms of the recovery time,” says Kelly.
“I knew what was a head of me and it wasn’t as if I thought I'd be back sooner or anything like that.
“When you know the dates and when you're likely to be back training and this is what you're going to have to do, it's actually not too bad.
“Everyone wants to get back playing games and playing the League games and the opening rounds of the Munster Championship games and it's just about getting back on the field and getting training again.
“I've a good 12/14 weeks behind me now at this stage in terms of training between rehabbing and running and back hurling. So delighted to be back and hopefully I'll be able to help out now in this quarter-final.”
Tony Kelly of Clare runs onto the pitch before the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship final match between Clare and Limerick at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.
It’s a testament to the strength in depth of the Clare panel that they managed to win the League and qualify for the Munster Final without Kelly starting a match.
They might have come up short again against Limerick in the Munster Final, but they’re arguably stronger now than at any other time during Brian Lohan’s time in charge of the team.
“Definitely,” says Kelly. “I think this year you're seeing just how good some of our panel members are. Lads who got League time earlier in the year and are now being thrown into the championship off the back of performing very well in the League.
“The likes Darragh Lohan, Ian Galvin, Conor Leen, those lads have done really well. Brian and the management team have built a strong panel, definitely. A lot of those lads were there when Brian first came in but they're only coming to national attention now because they've gotten good time in the League and championship.
“They've been there knocking around the last three or four years since Brian came in so it was shrewd and smart on his behalf to get them into the set-up early on and give them a taste of the S&C and inter-county training and we're seeing the fruits of that now coming through.
“There are lads breaking onto the 26 and the 15 and the panel is very strong and there's lots to be optimistic about heading into the quarter-finals.”
Tony Kelly of Clare signs autographs for supporters after the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Wexford and Clare at Chadwicks Wexford Park in Wexford. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile.
Limerick remain warm favourites to win a historic fifth All-Ireland title in a row but Kelly still believes that Clare are genuine contenders for the Liam MacCarthy cup.
“Definitely,” he asys. “At the start of the year the goal is to win every game and every competition. Whether it works out that way or it doesn't, that's the goal at the start of the year.
“We won the League and obviously we wanted to win the Munster Championship as well but unfortunately it didn't go our way.
“The biggest prize is the one that's still on offer, the Liam MacCarthy. We're definitely working towards that and doing everything we can to put ourselves into that position.
“This quarter-final is a massive game and if we can get over the line and get back to Croke Park, that's where you want to be.
“If we didn't think we could win it we wouldn't be at it. It's exciting, there's a massive challenge ahead. Obviously Limerick's record stands for itself and they're probably out in front of everyone in the country.
“But it's up to the five remaining teams to get to that level and improve and see can anyone take them down.”
