Brian Lohan: 'We got a performance'

By Cian O'Connell

A successful Allianz Hurling League Division 1B campaign illustrated Clare's potential, but producing in a critical Munster SHC match mattered deeply to manager Brian Lohan.

"That was the question, were we going to be able to handle the intensity and I think we did, we handled it fairly okay and played really well," Lohan remarked after Sunday's high scoring win over Waterford at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg.

"Our hurling was good and sharp, our work-rate was good and sharp and we made good decisions and got great scores.

"From an offensive point of view, putting up two goals and 33 points, I don't think we've ever scored anything like that so it was a great display from our lads going forward.

"Obviously, we're going to get criticised now for how we played defensively, but I'd give a fair amount of credit to Waterford for the forward line that they have. They're a good forward line and they'll do damage."

Lohan acknowledged the significant contribution made by promising Clare players. "Niall (O'Farrell) was excellent, he had an excellent League campaign," Lohan remarked.

"Sean Rynne was excellent, had an excellent League campaign, Diarmuid Stritch when came on was excellent, Shane Meehan and Ian Galvin the same.

"All those guys played well and it was a tough team for us to pick, a tough 26 to pick. It's a good start for us and we look forward now to the rest of the competition."

In a highly competitive Munster Championship, Lohan acknowledges that winning the first round relieves the pressure somewhat. "It does," Lohan responds. "With all due respect to everyone, losing your first home game would have been very difficult to recover from, even though we have recovered from that in the past.

"It would have been very difficult. The players were aware of that and it was important that we got a performance. I think we did get a performance – maybe not a complete performance, but we got a performance."