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14 things we learned from the Clare hurlers ‘Behind The Banner’ DVD

The behind the scenes documentary was launched last week in Ennis.

1. Pre-season training was no fun

Davy Fitzgerald’s objectives were clear when he took over with the Banner. ‘I came into the job when Clare were probably ranked 9th or 10th. My main objective was to get Clare back into the top four.”

That required some work. “There’s no other way about training, you have to do the work. There’s no shortcuts.”
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“Lads coming back cold, legs in bits. It was not an enjoyable few days”, was Podge Collins verdict on one training camp.

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“Davy’s trying to break you bringing you to the middle of the forest at seven in the morning”, says Shane O’Donnell.

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2. Particularly for Tony Kelly doing running sessions at 5am

“I got some shock when I went in training for the first week. I remember the first training session I went to, after the warm-up, I thought I was going to get sick”.

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3. The reaction to the Munster quarter-final win over Waterford was a concern

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“There was a lot of euphoria around and the place went a bit too mad I thought for winning one match”, says selector Mike Deegan. “When people look back at it, we didn’t play that well”.

4. Davy reckons the Munster semi-final loss to Cork turned their year

“In hindsight maybe it was one of the best things that happened to us. In hindsight it’s the reason I believe we’re 2013 All-Ireland champions.”

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5. The famous Mi-Wadi and biscuits meeting in Davy’s house wasn’t expected

“We were all expecting some meeting but at his house, I was kind of surprised for it to be there”, remembers Shane O’Donnell.

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6. A supporter wasn’t happy with Davy during the Laois match in Ennis

“A fella stood up behind me and roared with venom, ‘Fitzgerald you haven’t a clue. You’re ruining Clare hurling’. Roaring at me.

“Now there’s very little you can do about something like that. But this was only two minutes into a game. I remember thinking to myself ‘What a clown’. Fellas like that, my only message would be ‘Stop being selfish, support the team’.

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7. Davy’s proclamation before extra-time against Wexford surprised Tony Kelly

“Davy stood up and said if we win this game, ‘We’ll win the All-Ireland’. I looked around at Colm Galvin and was thinking, ‘What’s this fella on about? We’re struggling to beat Wexford’.

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8. Podge Collins on THAT handpass against Galway

“I don’t know where my mind was at. That backwards handpass was a bit flamboyant. If it had gone over the sideline, I could have been taken off, it could have been the end of my year”.

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9. The Galway win was dedicated to Cathal McInerney after his grandfather had passed away

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10. Watching Limerick win the Munster title provided plenty motivation

“I was so, so envious of those Limerick guys”, says Brendan Bugler.

“You’re getting a text off Brendan Bugler saying ‘lads how jealous are ye right now’. It’s something you dream of. But listen we might get our chance against these guys”, says Conor Ryan.

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11. There’s still amazement that Domhnall O’Donovan hit a point

Tony Kelly: “If you could pick any fella on the panel, one to thirty-four, Dunny would be 34. You’d nearly bring on Davy to hit the leveller.”

Davy Fitzgerald: “How he arrived up there? I’ve no idea. But by Jesus, I’m glad he did”.

Domhnall O’Donovan: “I was as surprised as anyone else that it went over”.

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12. The case to start Shane O’Donnell in the replay

Paul Kinnerk (selector): “He left us with no other option but to pick him”.

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Shane O’Donnell. “We were in St Pat’s and Davy called me aside. I was a small bit nervous but so excited to start.”

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Shane O’Donnell: “How did I find it? Pretty good I suppose. The greatest moment of my life with all my friends out on the pitch”.

13. They sang to Marty Morrissey after the replay in Croke Park

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14. And they didn’t forget one of their supporters in the celebrations in Cratloe

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‘Behind The Banner’ is the official behind-the-scenes story of Clare hurling’s 2013 All-Ireland triumph. It is available for purchase at the Clare supporters shop on O’Connell Street in Ennis.

– First published 16.56

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37 Comments
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    Mute Jo O Brien
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    Dec 4th 2013, 6:53 PM

    May the gentle soul of Liam in photo 17 rest in peace. A beautiful memory for his family , the day Liam met Liam.

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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Dec 4th 2013, 5:07 PM

    Fair play to Davy, he turned the talent Clare have into champions a lot faster than anyone expected. The real test now is to see can he keep them at the top.
    I wouldn’t bet against the little fecker.

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    Mute John O' Dowd
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    Dec 4th 2013, 6:32 PM

    Why is this DVD only available in Ennis and not nationwide or online?

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    Mute Pat Morgan
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    Dec 4th 2013, 8:46 PM

    Clare are the champions no matter how you feel about it .

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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Dec 4th 2013, 10:23 PM

    Davy is a bit like Marmite,you either love him or hate him,I don’t like Marmite but by God I love Davy.I’ve always admired him since his playing days,the passion he has brought to the game for the last 20 yrs is fantastic.Make no mistake about it Fitzy is a fantastic manager.

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    Mute Barry Mullane
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    Dec 4th 2013, 6:52 PM

    If that cork player just played a simple ball from the sideline in the drawn game ye might have won, so many different scenarios, the only important one is Clare won. It’s nearly Xmas will ya get over it.

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    Mute Reg Holdsworth
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    Dec 4th 2013, 6:39 PM

    Yada Yada.. If the ref didnt bottl sending off o Neil for smashing his Hurley off honans head, Clare would have won by ten points.

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Dec 4th 2013, 5:13 PM

    “Davy trying to break you in a forest at seven in the morning”…….I don’t mind kissing but I hate tha….

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    Mute Jack
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    Dec 4th 2013, 7:03 PM

    Where can you buy this DVD or will it be on RTE over Christmas?

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    Mute michael quirk
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    Dec 4th 2013, 6:20 PM

    If the ref played the clock in the first game we would ent have to be listening to this shit

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    Mute Kevin Beakey
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    Dec 4th 2013, 7:23 PM

    Your so right the referee was a disaster first day out… Gave a free against McInerney after being twice chopped to give Nash a lifeline to a game that was quickly slipping away from cork..
    Then he ignored advise from umpires who clearly saw o Neill strike honan in the head should have been instant red card and o Neill should be still serving his 6 month suspension….
    Podge Collins was being constantly fouled persistently without any cork back given a card… So yes I’d say he was poor enough now as we should have beaten cork on first day by 10 points or more…

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    Mute 'Bull' Mick Daly
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    Dec 4th 2013, 7:28 PM

    I see you left out the bit where Honan smacked O’Neill in the Balls first

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    Mute Joe Mahon
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    Dec 5th 2013, 4:07 AM

    Michael if your aunt had balls she would be your uncle. Get over it will ya, the best team won end of story

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    Mute Colleen Devine Thynne
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    Dec 29th 2013, 12:52 AM

    One ill dosent have any balls

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    Mute Reg Holdsworth
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    Dec 4th 2013, 6:38 PM

    Yada Yada.. If the ref didnt bottl sending off o Neil for smashing his Hurley off

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Dec 5th 2013, 11:59 AM

    As a wexford man u can talk about having luck or hard luck back door or front door beating big teams on way to final or not, 99% of fans don’t care who de beat as long as u’r team wins u can only beat who ever is in front of u. In 20 or 30 yrs time no one will know who beat who on de way or care one thing that won’t change is de name on de cup, fair play to Clare and if they win it next yr so what I’m sure de b around for de Next 4 or 5 yr to win another one, I wish people was writing about wexford been lucky about wining a All-ireland

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    Mute Declan Breen
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    Dec 4th 2013, 8:22 PM

    Ref cost wexford against clare the mossy waters injury!

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    Mute Reg Holdsworth
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    Dec 5th 2013, 1:01 PM

    I watched that show with mammy Corbett and couldn’t get over the state of her shelves! Nothing folded, just all Lars gear fcuked in! My mam would have been disgusted if she’d seen it.. But sur thats them yah hoos from Tipperary for ya!

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    Mute Bill
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    Dec 4th 2013, 11:30 PM

    The standard of hurling was nowhere near Kilkenny Galway the previous year Clare don’t lose the run of yourselves you got lucky you will be back in your normal spot as the whipping boys of Munster for the next eighty years as per usual

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    Mute Keano
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    Dec 5th 2013, 1:07 AM

    God love us Bill but you come across as being a bit simple. The hurling this year was at least as good as previous years.

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    Mute Pat Mustard
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    Dec 5th 2013, 1:28 AM

    Well Bill they have won 3 all Irelands since Waterford or Limerick last won even one so if they aren’t doing too badly as the whipping boys of Munster.

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    Mute Bill
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    Dec 5th 2013, 6:31 AM

    True Pat but put another way three wins in almost one hundred years Kilkenny won almost three times that in the last decade.

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    Mute Bill
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    Dec 5th 2013, 6:35 AM

    Keano would imagine that you are the average Clare supporter and did not even watch last years All Ireland games the drawn game was probably the best final ever

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    Mute Aiden Sweeney
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    Dec 5th 2013, 1:34 AM

    There nothing like it tight ship Davy made them belive

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    Mute Jack
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    Dec 4th 2013, 7:04 PM

    Davy will have all the young talent burned out by next year…… Won the all ireland won’t do anymore should leave before he kills off all the young talent

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    Mute Kevin Beakey
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    Dec 4th 2013, 7:14 PM

    Clown

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    Mute michael coghlan
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    Dec 4th 2013, 7:16 PM

    Don’t worry bout it jack , we have plenty more where they came from ! Thanks for concern !

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    Mute Mike Neil
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    Dec 4th 2013, 7:54 PM

    Agreed. It’s going to be very hard for Clare to reproduce the same hunger etc. They had a huge amount of luck along the way including drawing some easy teams in the qualifiers, lack of injuries and harsh sending offs (both things that hampered most teams this year) and also the unusual scenario of Tipp, KK and Galway all having an off year the same year. I can’t see this being the case again for a long time. Too much too soon for the likes of Kelly, Collins and McInerney etc. It’s like Clare had their name on the trophy all year the way things were working out. Things like that only happen once. You have to prove yourself worthy champions by beating some of the bigger teams and winning through the front door.

    I’m still delighted they beat Cork in the final though and freshened up the championship. Add a stronger Dublin, Limerick and Cork team into the mix next year and we are on for another cracking year. Clare will be a good bit off the pace I think but they will always have 2013, a back door victory it might have been but a victory all the same.

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    Mute Keano
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    Dec 5th 2013, 1:06 AM

    Thanks for your contribution Mike

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    Mute Joe Mahon
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    Dec 5th 2013, 4:11 AM

    Clare have the potential to dominate hurling over the next few years. Most of those young lads will retire as multiple all Ireland winners. The talent pool appears to have dried up a bit in Kilkenny and Tipp especially. Limerick, Dublin, and cork the most likely challengers again next year

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    Mute Paul White
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    Dec 5th 2013, 11:56 AM

    @ joe mahon, lose the tun of yourself much? One back door all ireland without beating kk or tipp and now its domination? Roll on munster and we see lol

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    Mute Kevin Beakey
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    Dec 5th 2013, 12:16 PM

    Roll on Munster for what tipp?? Judging by the winging I read on here couple of days ago tipp might be lucky to find 15 players now that they have all emigrated….
    Mammy Corbett might have only 1 more year of washing her mid 30 year old sons smalls as well

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    Mute Sean Carthy
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    Dec 5th 2013, 5:30 PM

    Davy fitz a legend in his own mind classless man who has small mans disease

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    Mute Martin
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    Dec 5th 2013, 10:31 PM

    Sean you would know all about lack of classness.. The man is dedicated to hurling. It’s quite easy to insult from behind a keyboard. Why don’t you pop down to Clare and say it to his face?

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    Mute Sean Carthy
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    Dec 5th 2013, 11:57 PM

    Grow up

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    Mute Sean Carthy
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    Dec 6th 2013, 12:02 AM

    Dedicated to hurling indeed waterford are broke after him

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    Mute Martin
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    Dec 6th 2013, 8:25 AM

    “Grow up”. Very insightful response Sean. Well done.

    Did Davy personally sign all of the cheques in his time with Waterford? No, The county board approves all expenditure and are therefore accountable. Why don’t you vent your frustrations with them if you feel so strongly about it?

    14
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