*Brian McNamara. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. 

NEW RULES and a stronger emphasis on fielding has made gaelic football “more exciting”, Clare midfielder Brian McNamara has said.

With kickouts now having to travel beyond the 40m line as part of the new rules in gaelic football, it has put a renewed importance on the ability of fielding and catching kickouts where Cree native Brian McNamara has become an invaluable asset for Clare.

As a result the pressure on the shoulders of the UL student has increased. On how he has adapted to the changes, Brian told The Clare Echo, “It is definitely different compared to when kickouts used to be a lot easier to get off short, in fairness it makes it more exciting for spectators as well as players, you want to be fielding the ball but it can be tough at times, that twenty second rule coming in where you have to come out, be out and turned is tough but I thought we were getting used to it and that we were getting stronger as the league went on, I thought Emmet (McMahon) was very good, he was very good in the air today, we’re building nicely”.

“You would when you’re catching them anyway,” he said on how it has enhanced his enjoyment of the game, “it is exciting in fairness”.

Clare’s five point win over Offaly was “bittersweet”, he said given that they missed out on promotion to Division 2. “We performed well today, I know our efficiency wasn’t great in the first half but we were doing everything right, it is unusual to come out of a game after winning by five or six points and be a bit disappointed, we want to build that consistency now and bring that to the Munster championship, that’s where our eyes are now”.

McNamara continued, “We need to go out every day and bring that level, that is what we have to aim for. There was a couple of games during the league when we weren’t consistent in the whole match and it came back to bite us there, it was a positive finish to the league and we’re building nicely now towards Munster”.

Having gone 0-2 0-0 ahead, Clare’s bright start was undone when they conceded a Jack Bryant goal on eleven minutes. “We were doing everything right and they got a fortunate enough goal but I thought we came back well and we stuck to what we were doing, we didn’t veer away from it and I thought it came right in the second half”.

Brian McNamara leaves two Offaly players in his path. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.

Attention from Clare’s perspective was solely on taking care of their task as opposed to worrying on might happen between Kildare and Antrim, he outlined. “We were always focused on trying to get the win here, we wanted to win here first and we said whatever happens after that happens. In the second half, we really kicked on”.

Their gaze is now switching to championship where they will welcome either Tipperary or Waterford to Zimmer Biomet Páirc Cíosóg on April 19th. “It’s all eyes on that now, we’ll get back training in a couple of days’ time and build for that”.

Related News

Kilkee, County Clare, Ireland
Kilkee named as Ireland's hidden gem by Lonely Planet
david gillick 1
Olympian effort by Ballinasloe Marathon Kids
cliffs of moher visitor centre 1
Council paid €8m to acquire two pieces of land adjacent to Cliffs of Moher
Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group 1st Meeting-2
Oireachtas members give commitment to enhance advocacy for Shannon Airport

Advertisement

Latest News
bunratty castle folk park 2
Audit raises questions of Council's governance following management of Bunratty deal
clare v cork all ireland final 21-07-24 peter duggan seamus harnedy diarmuid ryan 1
Ryan recovers as Clare name starting team for Cork clash
east clare memorial pat hayes
East Clare Memorial Committee to hold annual Easter commemoration
john conlon 1
'At 36 my body feels as good as it's ever been' - Conlon geared up for seventeenth season in saffron and blue
clare v offaly 23-03-25 ikem ugwueru 3
Ikem a major injury doubt for Clare as Cleary recovers
Premium
shane kingston 2
Competition to get on Cork team & panel is the best I've seen says Kingston
kerry v clare 05-05-24 emmet mcmahon seán o'shea 1
Emmet eager for Clare to excel on Easter weekend
clare v cork u20 26-03-25 diarmuid stritch 2
Stritch joins Clare senior hurling panel & Galvin returns to training
cliffs of moher visitor centre 1
Council paid €8m to acquire two pieces of land adjacent to Cliffs of Moher
tipperary v clare u20 16-04-25 jamie moylan 1
Clare U20s suffer nine point loss at the hands of Tipperary

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement