Over the last 30 years, we have become used to Marty Morrissey becoming excitable on the biggest days. But there had to be a first time, and there was a special joy in it involving his native Clare.
On July 19, 1992, the Banner took on champions Kerry in the Munster final. At the time, Kerry were chasing their 64th Munster title. Clare had been champions once – way back in 1917.
But they had an Army man from Mayo in charge, and John Maughan was fiercely ambitious. He didn’t mind stepping on toes either, winding up a few club managers with his approach — including Morrissey, who was then in charge of Kilmurry-Ibrickane.
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“The training regime he brought in with Clare was ferocious. Running on the beach and on sand dunes,’’ he said.
“We had three players on the panel and there were a few disagreements between myself and John over their availability for the club. He was having none of it — ‘they’re with Clare and that’s it’.”
Back then, Morrissey was working with RTE Cork, and had covered a few Clare games earlier in the year.
When they mugged Kerry, the football world was stunned, and the commentator came up with a line that quickly became immortal — “there won’t be a cow milked in Clare for a week.”
But Morrissey wasn’t surprised by Clare’s rise as many others.
“They’d reached the All-Ireland B final and things were building. Clare had a decent League, Kerry were in transition. Jack O’Shea was coming to the end, and there were a few young lads starting out.”
It was 30 years ago and many of the boys of ‘92 will meet up before Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final with Derry.
Derry are favourites, but both played in Division Two this year. Clare will feel they have a puncher’s chance.
They’ve often felt that way since 1992 transformed their mindset. It started with a stunt, maybe, but a stunt was needed to give the Clare footballers a jolt.
Maughan had just been appointed as manager in the winter of 1990.
The players knew little about him other than the fact that he’d played for Mayo, was in the army and at 29 was as young as some of the players.
He’d called a training session for Ballyline after getting the nod and the players’ jaws hit the floor when Maughan walked through the door.
He was wearing a Mayo jersey. There was method to the madness, though... Maughan pulled the jersey off, threw it to the floor, and stuck on a Clare shirt.
“Lads, I’ll always be from Mayo but, when I’m down here, I’m a Clareman.”
Defender Seamus Clancy would become one of his key players and he could see the wisdom behind the stunt.
“It was kind of a religious thing,’’ he said, “an act to show us he was with us all the way.”
That way would take Clare to the Munster title within 18 months — probably the most extraordinary coup in the history of the GAA.
A day that forced Kerry to no longer take success as a given.
He ended up having such a stellar career that it’s easy to forget Seamus Moynihan made his Kerry debut on one of the county’s darkest days.
What is striking from the old footage of that game are the clips of Jack O’Shea.
Moynihan played in midfield that day, with O’Shea stationed at full-forward. O’Shea would turn 35 later that year.
He had been on the Kerry panel since 1976, and this would be his last game.
He walked away after the bleakest day in Kerry’s history. That’s how big that Sunday in 1992 was.
Ger Loughnane would never class himself as a football man, and he explained the divide in the county.
“There’s a niche following in Clare for football,’’ he said.
“Football is predominantly a west Clare thing, but they’re also great followers of hurling in that part of the county too.
“The opposite isn’t true. East Clare people have never supported football in the way that those from the west have supported hurling.
“Even when west Clare people move east to Ennis or wherever, they still stay unbelievably loyal to football. It’s in their blood.”
Loughnane was in the crowd in the Gaelic Grounds when Kerry were shocked by the Banner, and enjoyed the buzz.
“I only saw that team once — and that was on their biggest day. It was only by chance that I happened to be there at all,’’ he said.
“On the Wednesday leading up to that game, Clare were beaten in the Munster Under-21 hurling final in Thurles — and I was the manager.
“It was the disappointment of losing the game — rather than the fall-out — which left me with very little enthusiasm for any sporting occasion, let alone a Gaelic football match.
“However, it turned out to be a hugely enjoyable and pleasant experience.”
Could there be a repeat on Saturday? They’ll back themselves, that’s for sure.
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