Shane O Donnell pictured at the launch of the Bord Gais Energy All Ireland under 21 Championship launch.
**By Cian O'Connell **
Encouraged by a satisfactory Allianz Hurling League campaign Clare’s Shane O’Donnell is relishing the challenge of facing standard bearers Kilkenny in Sunday’s Semple Stadium semi-final.
Having secured promotion from Division 1B O’Donnell admits that Clare have made a decent start to the year. “Absolutely, at the start of the league, our aim was basically to get out of 1B and fortunately we did that,” O’Donnell said. “We had a big day against Limerick and we came out the right side of it. We haven’t lost a match yet. In all metrics, it’s been a good league.”
How the Banner coped with that crucial Cusack Park clash against Limerick bodes well for Clare. “Yeah, especially the way the league fixtures came out at the start, the last match in the Park was probably going to define the promotional status. There was a championship feel to it. Everybody was excited about it before, we managed to come out with a win which was massive for us.”
O’Donnell hopes to be passed fit following a recent foot injury for what promises to be a fascinating encounter against the Cats. “They always seem to come out of the blocks against us and fairly put it up to us. Kilkenny are the benchmark and everybody is trying to match them.
“But the different styles? I wouldn’t read too much into it, really. We don’t think we’re the bastions of a different style of hurling,” O’Donnell replied when asked about the respective approaches of the teams.
“People think that Kilkenny’s style of simplistic, but it’s not at all. The tracking, the working that those lads do.
“TJ Reid is one of the best defenders in the game. He’s incredible, the blocks and hooks he puts in. To say that they’re a simple route one team is not fair to their whole establishment. They’re an incredible working team as well as scoring.”
The 2015 Allianz Hurling League included a couple of lively fixtures between Clare and Kilkenny; O’Donnell expects it to be similarly interesting in Thurles.
“Clare and Kilkenny always seem to have great games, even the year before we had a great game inside in the Park for the beginning of the league.
“It’s just always very close and obviously we lost by a point twice to them last year. Whatever way it works out, there always seem to be a bit of space on my side and they rack up serious scores and we are always trying to catch up with them.
“Whatever way it works, the games are fantastic and they are a joy to play. That’s why I’m fighting to get back for this game more than any other game.”
Shane O Donnell scoring a goal for Clare in the 2015 Allianz Hurling League Division 1A relegation play/off against Kilkenny.
With John Conlon hugely productive in attack, O’Donnell remains keen to contribute in his trademark inside line role.
“John is having a fantastic league,” O’Donnell agrees. “But I do enjoy playing as the one-man inside. I really do like it.
“If the game falls so you get a bit of space and are not double-marked, you tend to have, not freedom, but a lot of opportunities to do damage. John is having a fantastic league so it’s excellent to have him roaming in and out.
“If we’re pulling men out, there’s usually a sweeper because they’ll have an excess of backs. It just means that I don’t score – which is fine. If the ball comes in then, the sweeper will come to me. A man outside or someone is going to be the one scoring. To be honest, I don’t care. If a player scores, it’s all the one.”
Podge Collins’ welcome return to the Clare set-up is another significant boost according to O’Donnell. “Excellent. Fantastic. Podge brings a different level of enthusiasm. What he looks like on the field, the hard work running around, he’s like off the field as well. He’s brilliant to have around the camp. He’s working as hard as he can to take my position off me so he has me on my toes,” O’Donnell laughed.
“The first year I was on the panel he was brilliant to me. He was down in Cork working and I was in my first year of college. It was tough driving back and forth. I got on brilliant with him.
“I was sad to see him go last year, I understood it. I’m delighted to see him back. We always used to complain that it would never be the two of us starting, it would be one or the other. Hopefully this year at some stage both of us will be playing on the same team.”
On Wednesday Bord Gáis Energy announced that it will continue to sponsor the GAA Hurling U-21 All Ireland Championship for a further five years. The new deal will run until the end of the 2020 season and will see Bord Gáis Energy investing over €2million in the sponsorship over that time. For more information about the Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 All Ireland Championship log on to: www.bgeu21.ie/
