Shane O’Donnell, who last night was named as the Gaelic Writers' Association Hurling Personality of the Year, in association with EirGrid, gives an in-depth interview about this year's campaign and his career so far.
How do you review the 2023 season?
It's kind of a strange one to look back on. I think there's a number of years you can probably say that we were in the doldrums when you look back at it, but obviously it didn't feel like that at the time.
But I think in the last few years we find our feet again and we started to come back to where we feel we can compete.
There are a few left from your All-Ireland win of (David McInerney, John Conlon, Tony Kelly, Peter Duggan, Conor Cleary) - is there a big bond there?
100 per cent, there's a very strong connection there. There's a few more you could probably add to that like, Cathal Malone and David Fitz[gerald] and those will be all considered as senior panel, been there quite a long time.
And, yeah, there's a really strong bond there. It's kind of at a stage now where I think we're all staying with this each year, we're all staying with it.
But when one or two of them start to drift away, then I think the entire group will reconsider whether they're going to be involved, kind of thing.
There's a fantastic bond between them and I think in the last few years, especially since Covid that's really come out and we've taken massive ownership I think actually, of the team over the last couple of years.
You were straight in after minor, 11 seasons done; is it harder for players like that to keep committing?
I think it depends on a number of factors. Definitely how many years you've played and also connected to that is, I felt the last few years where I've only played after the league have been less taxing on my body. That has definitely facilitated me kind of feeling fresh over those last couple of years and I think more players could consider that.
But there's also the circumstances you're in, in your general life outside of that. Like you have players end up in situations where you have to decide that a job or something is more important than continuing to play with the county or those kind of things.
So, a number of things have to kind of fall into place, but when it comes to the physical ability of the person or their body to continue to go, how many seasons they put down is kind of the main criteria, I think.
At this stage of your career, do you just take it season by season rather than any long-term plan with Clare?
It's kind of a year by year thing now at this stage. My girlfriend (Niamh) and I would be very interested in working abroad and that kind of thing.
And I really think that when I retire I'll have to tie it in with working abroad that year because I found it very difficult towards the end of the year that I took out because of the concussion, going watching games.
I found it extremely difficult. I did not realise, I did not appreciate the plight of the supporters for Clare until I actually stood in the crowd and watched a couple of our games and, my God, it was just unbelievably stressful.
So I don't know if I'll be able to do that the first year when I retire properly, but... might have to tie it in with kind of going abroad or something. But yeah, it is kind of a year by year thing at this stage.
The year you were studying at Harvard did that kind of give you a taste for abroad?
It did broaden the horizons but at the same time I was back in April that year, so I only missed the league. So watching the league, I felt like I wanted to be back there, but championship is just a different kind of experience.
And that year the concussion was the only year I've had where I've kind of been disconnected from the team and watching championship games from the outside.
That time of Boston was one of the best experiences I've had, but also makes you yearn for getting a longer period of time to just live abroad and experience that lifestyle.
It's been a memorable last two years, playing big games, Munster finals against Limerick, All-Ireland semi-finals against Kilkenny - but still lacking silverware.
Absolutely and we can reflect on it as well internally that the last couple of years have been so enjoyable. I've had a couple of kind of long conversations with John Conlon about it where they've just been so enjoyable.
Like Brian [Lohan] and his management team have really kind of facilitated and kind of fostered a brilliant group there and the attitude is really good.
And as I mentioned about senior players earlier, there's a great bond and some great young lads as well. So like there is everything that you kind of want there and we have been involved in a couple of really great games.
Obviously without the silverware, it's tough to look back on them very fondly and there's always that tinge of disappointment when you do discuss them, but we have put ourselves in a position to compete for those kind of those titles. And yeah, it's been fairly enjoyable. It is just missing that silverware.
Easier to take a loss like Kilkenny this year [All-Ireland SHC semi-final] than last year's where you were well beaten?
They're completely different. It's a strange, kind of (feeling). In some ways when you lose by a lot like that game last year against Kilkenny, those things that keep you up at night, like, 'If only I had caught that ball' or 'If only I just went for goal at that time', that obviously doesn't really apply because there's double digit in the difference in scores.
But there's just an overall around the entire team and panel, just a total, kind of deflated atmosphere and everybody just wants to forget it and there's nothing to build on from it. So it's far worse definitely.
This year at least you go out fighting and have an opportunity at the very end of the game to bring it to extra-time.
That leaves you with something to work with basically, even though at the end of the day, that loss is a loss, like and you don't get to the All Ireland final. But it definitely does kind of give you the impression that you're kind of, you know, at least able to build on it and compete in that position next year.
You scored your first goal in Croke Park since the 2013 All-Ireland Final replay...
Yeah it was. I've only played four games in Croke Park, it's not that many to think through, but yeah it was the first since. I actually, at the time I hit it, I actually thought Eoin [Murphy, Kilkenny goalkeeper] was going to save it because I hit it from quite far out.
I hadn't expected the two Kilkenny lads to kind of get tied up. That was very fortunate from my perspective. So I actually threw up the ball with the intention of hitting it because I expected, I think it was Cillian Buckley or someone who was coming back, he ended up tripping, so by the time I threw it up, I actually didn't have a defender on me and it was too late to change my mind basically.
So I just tried to hit as hard as I can and when I went in, I was somewhat surprised. I had a very muted reaction to it. But I think, five minutes later, when Eoin pulled off that incredible save. I think that shows obviously the calibre of goalie and it kind of does reflect kindly on the fact that my shot went in.
He's an exceptional player obviously. Would have preferred if he just let both of them in, but it was nice to get one past at least.
Your form has been at a really high level in last couple years and your attacking role has changed.
Yeah, definitely I've been enjoying it massively along with everybody, but it definitely has evolved quite a lot.
I've got a lot more confident in my shooting, which was kind of something that I only realised when looking back on it, held me back a lot. I really never decided to take shots on. I was always looking to take someone on or to pass the ball and I think that limited my play a lot.
The other side of it is that in the last few years I've put on quite a lot of weight and I found that that's made a huge difference actually on the pitch. It just feels like I'm able to get past people or get out in front of people or just get through, basically get through people when needed in a way that I was never able to before.
So I think a combination of just the confidence to actually take shots on as well as that like added weight has really kind of facilitated that change.
Goal against Kilkenny sums up that changed approach?
Yeah, I think I've been involved in too many games where it kind of peters out and you don't get that goal chance when you're two or three points behind.
And I think I'd kind of been put into full-forward only just a minute or two before that, very aware that what was needed was a goal. So that kind of played into the decision-making that came to that.
But I did feel like I had the opportunity and, and obviously it takes the ball coming in and breaking kindly and all of that. But yeah, I have been playing with confidence this year and last year and hopefully, hopefully continue until next year.
Do you feel this Clare squad are closer than ever in trying to get silverware, with two Young Hurler o the Year nominees [Adam Hogan and Mark Rodgers] this year added to it?
I think it's right in saying we're building a very nice trajectory. We've kind of mentioned a few times now about that senior group, but there's also a brilliant group another group of players in that kind of younger (age) around 20 to 22.
The two lads for young player of the year, they are a great example, but there's a number of others that are in that kind of group that are vying for getting onto the pitch. I think maybe that's what has maybe been missing at some years over the last years of just having a couple of really good young players who are pushing lads on the team to fight for their positions.
We certainly had that the last couple of years and I think we've the same again coming next year. So that does really put pressure on the players that are on the pitch to keep their jerseys, really puts pressure on everybody to step up their game basically and I think that's what's made the difference over the last couple years.
And I do think the trajectory is still one step more next year and obviously, what we'll be aiming for is bringing in silverware, whether it be a Munster final or an All-Ireland final.
Like it is about getting silverware, obviously, like the elephant in the room is that Limerick are going for something that's never been done before. They're going to be more motivated than any team could possibly be.
So it's obviously having to compete against that, but we're looking forward to the challenge.
You've talked a lot about your concussion issues, how are you now, is it something you still have to monitor regularly?
I get this kind of question frequently and I think it's just, 'no', essentially is the answer.
It's something like if I had, you know, twisted my ankle or just dislocated my shoulder, once it's fixed, then it's fixed until, well, hopefully it never happens again.
[ So it's basically completely behind meOpens in new window ]
and I have actually over the last year or two through different engagements with the media or different conferences, I think kind of being embedded into this concussion kind of environment and the different research and efforts from different groups going on.
I actually really enjoyed it. I've really enjoyed being in that and contributing to it in whatever small way I can and seeing that kind of progress away from the total, total fear that can kind of come with concussion towards getting the message out here that it's not the end of the world and that you can recover completely from it.
How has the feedback been for the motion you brought to the GPA [seeking better financial cover for injured players]?
It's been very positive actually although it hasn't got to the point of being voted on by, I think Central Council or by county delegates or anything like that.
So that's where I think we'll expect maybe a bit more push-back. But when it went through the GPA motion, it passed unanimously, which was brilliant to see and even just anecdotally from hearing stories from players or people that have kind of contacted me or even just people I've run into, it's all been extremely positive, which is also great to hear.
There's been a certain level of surprise from the general public, they're just surprised that that's not already the case that if someone gets injured, that they wouldn't be out of pocket. Maybe the general public didn't understand where players stand when they go out on the pitch.
But the general consensus, the feedback I've been getting has been really excellent, which is heartening.
Have you appreciated the round-robin system, games in Ennis - it had been said before that Clare fans and the team had lost their connection?
I think the round robin and I think the GAA get like quite a lot of criticism from different angles, but the change to the hurling championship structure to bring in the round robin and have home and away games has really been excellent. I think every player would kind of echo that, definitely in Munster anyway, to say at the very least.
There's been some brilliant games, like that Cork game this year, just barely getting Cork by a point, like a really good Cork team that put Limerick to the pin of their collar just a couple weeks after. Then we had the Limerick game the year before which really kind of surprised a lot of Clare fans as well.
I would say like they've been memories and part of what I was discussing earlier about really enjoying the last few years. A large part of that is getting to play those games in places like Cusack Park and not having that home crowd is something that is somewhat missing I think when I look back on a lot of the first few years, basically that I played with Clare or a lot of years I played with Clare.
We've had management all the time trying to build that connection with the supporters. I think every county is trying to do that.
But in the last couple of years some element of it is having Brian as the manager and he is undoubtedly a leader of us, but also like he's looked up to by every hurling person in County Clare and further abroad as well.
Having those games in Cusack Park, having those fantastic atmospheres and occasions where we come out on top in very close games, it massively adds to that kind of connection and really, we've been reaping the rewards I think from a couple of those performances in how the supporters have been supporting us.
A couple of changes in the Clare management team for next year, Brendan Bugler and Tommy Corbett in?
Yeah, so I'm look forward to it. I have not been back with the panel and kind of won't be back until the New Year, but really looking forward to working with the guys, Tommy Corbett, also I would have worked with in the club and Brendan obviously, really looking forward to getting back, obviously had a great relationship with him back when we were playing together.
So it's great to be back on the same kind of panel together, so really looking forward to that.
