*Paul Flanagan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ONE irritating stigma that has consistently been thrown at Clare nationally over the past decade is that this team peaked in 2013 and were almost lucky to claim that crown as they failed to back it up ever since.
That ‘flash in the pan’ jibe was almost a noose around their necks at times as penultimate stage heartbreak in 2018, 2022 and 2023 prevented the Banner from even getting back to a final.
Consequently, it made this year’s late turnaround against Kilkenny all the sweeter a fortnight ago, particularly for the surviving sextet of 2013 that included Paul Flanagan. “It was probably an easy narrative to go to but the reality is more that in that period of time, there were a couple of different managements, set-ups and coaches and plenty of changes along the way. So as a player, you’re trying to find your feet and put that bit of traction under you to help you to get better.
“I think as a collective group, the last few years have been really enjoyable for us. We’ve really enjoyed the set-up and really enjoyed being part of this and it has give us a real lease of life to go and try and do as well as we can,” Flanagan told The Clare Echo.
Mentally or physically, he doesn’t feel there has been a big change for Clare in 2024. “I don’t feel there was any one thing or big alteration. I think there’s a case that if you look at the consistency of performance, that has been there for the last few years and yes of course built into that, there are going to be games that you want to perform better in and elements to improve upon but I think overall it’s been really positive. That said, without a shadow if a doubt, you want to be competing in finals and you want to be involved in the shake up looking to push for silverware.
“I’ve always felt over the last few years that even getting to an All-Ireland Final would be a big thing so it has been bitterly disappointing not to get there in the last two years because you felt that we were genuinely playing well but they are the breaks in sport. You don’t always get what you deserve in hurling and you contrast that with the fact that Kilkenny have been in the last two finals and Limerick have obviously been really consistent as well while we have just been doing our level best to compete with them”.
While the Ballyea star captained Clare to a Munster minor titles in 2010 and Munster and All-Ireland honours in that famed year of 2013 when he was also on the matchday panel for the All-Ireland Senior success, his adult inter-county career didn’t exactly go according to script after that.
He did make his senior championship debut as a sub in their epic two match All-Ireland defence against Wexford in 2014, it took until 2020 and the introduction of Brian Lohan as manager for Flanagan to finally don a starting jersey.
“It has been peaks and troughs really for me. I often say it to the younger players that there’s an element of actually being able to figure that out for yourself that there’s times that you have to be patient and there are times to just go with it. But in saying that, Brian has given us a real chance and as a set-up it’s been top drawer and as a player that’s all you can ask for really.
“It’s funny we were probably very young at that time [for the All-Ireland win in 2013 and got a great start to our senior inter-county careers but you have to earn it from then on. We’ve had games that we performed well in and really enjoyed over the past few years and equally there have been games that we probably learned a good few lessons from but I think it was important for this group to get over the line against Kilkenny in the semi-final and now looking forward to a final again is huge”.
While he was arguably the most relieved player in the panel that a Clare v Limerick final pairing wasn’t realised due to his Ardscoil Rís teaching connections, the Ballyea defender is an integral part of not only the current senior squad but every future team as well due to his mental performance coaching role with the Banner’s underage development squads. “The vision that the likes of Kieran McDermott and Donal Moloney have had over the past number of years is something that I’ve really enjoyed being part of, no more than any of the other coaches involved.
“For me, it’s refreshing to be contributing to your own county and possibly imparting some nuggets of being a player to younger players and just giving them the support to be able to enjoy what they’re doing and go out and express themselves as best they can”.
Fundamentally to ensure that the next generation don’t have to suffer such an interminable eleven year gap to the next All-Ireland Final appearance no doubt.
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