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A 'mathematical genius' helped Clare win a 5th consecutive Munster hurling title last night

Clare U21 manager Gerry O’Connor on the level of detail that coach Paul Kinnerk put into last night’s win over Cork.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

‘A MATHEMATICAL GENIUS’ has been hailed as the architect of Clare’s stunning Munster U21 hurling title success last night.

Clare destroyed Cork to claim victory by 15 points and compete a three-in-a-row at this grade in the province.

Remarkably the 1-28 to 1-13 success saw joint-managers Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney win their fifth consecutive Munster title with Clare after minor victories in 2010 and 2011 were followed by three U21 crowns. Last night’s success was maintained their 14-match winning record with Clare teams in Munster sine April 2010.

But O’Connor was keen to heap praise on coach Paul Kinnerk for helping to shape the latest convincing triumph.

“We probably gave the best 30 minute display of hurling that we have ever given as a group. I have to say this, that Paul Kinnerk designed all the training sessions based on his reading of the DVD of the Cork Waterford game and he completely negated the (Cork) sweeper.

“I really want to put that on record because you can’t take away from the mathematical ability and genius of the guy to digest and devour the DVD. and then come back in and put a series of training sessions in place.

“We felt that if we were patient and kept picking off our points, it would drag them into a situation that they would be forced to release the sweeper back up the field.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

“Up the other end, our full-back line were seriously on top. We had spoken about playing from the front, particularly on (Alan) Cadogan and (Anthony) Spillane and we got our match-ups right.

“We had a lot of debate and disagreements and we changed our minds several times but that just shows that we have several strong personalities in the management team.

“Jamie Shanahan as well man marking their target from puck-outs Shane O’Keeffe, he was outstanding as well.  Hammy [Aaron Cunningham] was a savage outlet. The plan went to perfection and it doesn’t often happen like that.”

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

O’Connor revealed that the hurt the Clare management team experienced in losing the 2011 All-Ireland minor semi-final to Galway has spurred them on to try to be successful with this U21 team.

“In 2011, Donal, myself, Jimmy and Paul were never as gutted as we were after losing to Galway because we felt that we had the best prepared and most skilful group of minors that ever left the county.

“But when the pressure came on from Galway, we just didn’t appear to have the resilience and the leaders throughout the group. That was the challenge that we laid down to these guys at the start of the year, ‘we know for sure that you are the most skilful bunch of hurlers to ever come out of Clare but you’ve got to back that up with real leadership, real resilience and real mental toughness’.

“I mean it’s all well and good celebrating the win tonight but the real leadership was shown when we went four points down against Tipperary in the semi-final, that’s how you define leadership.”

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

O’Connor likened the management team to ‘a marketing department’ for Clare hurling.

“These Under 21’s are a serious marketing tool now for the rest of the clubs in Clare. Donal, myself, Jimmy (Browne) and Paul get all the kudos on nights like tonight.

“But Tony Kelly, Colm Galvin and all the squad that turned out to be unbelievable ambassadors for Clare hurling, somebody in their club or teacher that influenced, inspired and coached them to be the players they turned out to be.

“I would look at us [management] as the marketing department for future players and coaches in Clare. The summer camp numbers have gone off the richter scale in relation to their popularity and that’s what it’s about. We set ourselves very ambitious goals at the start of the year and we are only halfway there now.”

Clare crowned Munster U21 hurling champions with 15-point win over Cork

5 talking points after Clare claim Munster U21 hurling title against Cork

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