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*Ciaran Russell powers forward. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Introducing a more defensive approach was hailed as key to Éire Óg winning a first Clare SFC title in fifteen years by one of their most experienced backs.
Clare wing-back Ciaran Russell soaked up the atmosphere on the field of Cusack Park as Éire Óg supporters flocked around panellists and management to offer their congratulations as the club ended a fifteen year wait to be crowned senior football champions.
In their six championship games this year, Éire Óg didn’t concede a single goal. “It wasn’t just the six backs, a lot of people just say it but I mean it, it was the fifteen lads on the field especially the fourteen outfield the tackles from the boys inside in the full-forward line were unbelievable which made our job that bit easier, anything that went past us the boys were mopping up inside, it was a great year defensively, a lot of that has to go to Seanie Buckley who put the plan in place. This year we just wanted to win, it wasn’t about performances, it was about winning and thankfully we’ve done that,” Russell stated.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, the Garda admitted that their inability to break past the quarter-final stages for four seasons in succession had him questioning if the Townies would ever fulfil their potential. “Over the last few years I was starting to wonder if we would ever get there, it was one of those things, I knew we had the players but there was always question marks, sometimes we were able to put up scores but we couldn’t keep them out.
“From day one this year, we set out our stall, we had a great first round but after that they were all tough battles especially that game in Kilmihil against Doonbeg that really stood to us, it is hard to please everyone. In the last few years, people have said we’re brilliant scoring but we were conceding them, this year we weren’t putting up big scores and people said we were boring to watch but I’ll take that all day long, we have the cup and we’re absolutely delighted with that”.
Looking around surrounded by a lake of red and white, he said, “It still hasn’t sunk in, we’re trying to enjoy the moment but the feeling is joy, we’re delighted to have everyone here, everyone on the field here is enjoying it and that is what it’s all about”.
Russell’s father, Tom was part of the backroom team which made the success all the more special. “I don’t think any setup in Éire Óg would survive without Tom Russell because he is phenomenal, he gives his life to it,” manager Paul Madden said before the final.
Having his father connected to the set-up and a tight bond with the players sweetened the breakthrough, Ciaran acknowledged. “It’s great to have Dad involved, sometimes it can be tough especially after defeats but he has been around long enough, he has been here and done it, I’m thankful that he’s there today to share it with me. The lads, we’ve grown up together, it is unbelievable, there’s a few of us that are the older lads but the younger lads have been brilliant, they’ve made our job so easy, everyone gets on, we’re going to enjoy the next few days as much as we can”.
