Fun is key to success for David Reidy
Clare's David Reidy pictured at the launch of the 2026 Munster Championships. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Click here to listen to the interview with Clare senior hurler David Reidy.
By Cian O'Connell
With promotion secured and momentum generated, David Reidy acknowledges it has been an encouraging Allianz Hurling League for Clare.
Sunday's Division 1B Final against Dublin at TUS Gaelic Grounds provides another opportunity to impress ahead of an intriguing Munster Championship opener at home to Waterford.
Following a disappointing 2025 for Clare, stitching a winning sequence together was crucial. "We took the league campaign in two slots," Reidy explains.
"One was the start of the league, we'd Dublin coming to town. We knew what was coming, it was going to be a real intense battle, which it proved to be, and we, again, when you reflect back in that game, we were probably a small bit lucky to get the result.
"Then, the second half of the league was Wexford coming to town and they needed a win to get promoted. We knew that was going to be a real championship pace.
"Everything was going to be up another level. And then we managed to get the result there and then go into a league final against Dublin.
"For both teams, it's going to be as good preparation as anything, league final, two weeks out before championship. What more would you want to be prepared for Waterford coming to town?"
That several emerging players are contributing to the Clare cause offers a source of optimism. "Most definitely, and they've all got meaningful game time, but not only did they get game time, they've put their own stamp on it," Reidy responds.
"So, there's massive competition for places now, and that's the most pleasing aspect of the league.
"You look around the field, look around training, is the intensity is upped because of youth coming in, youth making a difference when they come in. The competition for places is massive now."
Was it difficult to deal with how last year unfolded? "Yeah, I suppose, again, like we were probably knocked out, was it the end of May? So it's a long time before you're back into action back in December in the county," Reidy remarks.
"So, there's a lot of time to reflect. A lot of time to make plans on how to improve as a group, how to improve individually.
"Luckily myself, I was back in with the club. We had a good club campaign, a really good club campaign. So, that was nearly a distraction for how bad the season at inter-county went."
Clare's David Reidy in Allianz Hurling League action. Photo by Paul Phelan/Sportsfile
With Éire Óg, Ennis Reidy enjoyed a significant club adventure. "Yeah, it was massive - it was 35 years before we won the last county championship," Reidy says.
"So, it was massively important to myself, to my teammates, to the full panel of players, but now only to that, but to the full club and then even the wider community of Ennis. The scenes after the game there was unbelievable. It was really magical kind of feeling.
"Through the years, and the more you play with it into in adult hurling, the more important it was getting, and I would feel the tighter we were getting as a group as well.
"That's funny to say because we were getting tighter as a group, but the club has grown as well in terms of numbers. That doesn't happen everywhere.
"Again, if you look at the tightest of tight groups, normally the community or the club is small. So, it's something important to savour is something important to keep and keep building on."
Has Reidy's perspective altered training and preparing for matches with Clare? "When I started, would I have had fun?," Reidy says.
"Again, it's a question for anyone, like, why do you do something and put so much time into it if you're not having fun?
"Was I putting too much pressure on myself to play well? Possibly. But I can definitely say over the last six, seven, eight years, fun has been has been there."
"One piece of advice that I tell any new lads coming into the panel that if you're not having fun, you won't be able to give your best. If you think back at U6, U7, U8, why do they go down training? Why do they go and play with their friends? Because number one is fun. Then you can think about, oh, you want to get better or you want to improve, you want to win.
"But if you're not having the fun, how would you get better? How would you put the time into it if you're not having fun? So, it's something that might be taken for granted to a certain degree as well. Oh yeah, he's putting 30 hours a week, 35 hours a week into it. He's having a great time. But are you actually, and you have to find how to have fun?"
What makes sport enjoyable? "Two-fold," Reidy answers. "It's definitely the group around you that you have close-knit friends of all different age groups.
"It's making sure you can you can distinguish between releasing the pressure and bring the enjoyment. I'd be very big on that, that every night I go into training, it's I want to enjoy it.
"I want to have the craic. I'll work very hard and I'll work to my best and my ability and I'll put in 100 per cent, but I also want to enjoy it at the same time."
