Clare - All Ireland Champions 1995

" ... A Uachtarain, a Uachtarain Cumann Luthchleas Gael. Ta athas an domhain orm an corn Liam McCarthaigh seo a ghlacadh ar son foireann iomani as contae an Chlair.  

        There's been a missing person in Clare for 81 long years. Well today, that person has been found alive and well. And that persons name is Liam McCarthy. In that long period, you the people of Clare and every person who ever wore the saffron and blue with pride, has suffered much. We have listened to many many jibes down through the years. We were told to stick to our traditional music. Well, in Clare we love our traditional music, but we love our hurling as well. 

        1995 will go down in history as the greatest year in Clare GAA. That 1995 became that year was no accident. Many people are due many thanks so that today might have become a reality.  And I think first and foremost at this time of the many great Clare teams down through the years who never, many of those teams were better than this Clare team but they were never as fortunate as we were. Now we accept this Liam McCarty Cup on behalf of all those teams who ever wore the Clare jersey. As I said many tributes are due to many people and it's very hard to name out everybody. I think I covered a lot of people in the Munster Final speech but the County Board and our Sponsor Pat O'Donnell deserve special mention. Our medical people, Dr Padraig Quinn, Dr. Conor Fanning, Colm Flynn and two others that I think of Ursula Loughnane and Joe Joe Horan. 

        But mostly I suppose on this great day, tribute is due to three great men. Firstly to our selector and mentor and the man for whom at many stages he kept the ship afloat - the man from Cratloe, Tony Considine. The man who drove us to hell and back and broke our backs in Shannon, in Crusheen, everywhere we trained - the Scariff publican, the great Michael McNamara. 

        And finally, the man who would die and has died for Clare hurling and so that this day, his obsession might become a reality. A man who gave every last drop of sweat and blood he has, the great Ger Loughnane. 

        Its going to be one hell of a week and we look forward to seeing ye in Ennis tomorrow night. Finally, we say to Offaly - for many years you have been our inspiration. We looked at your success story and said "why can't we achieve that?" And we thank you sincerely for a great struggle today. And we know that Offaly hurling is so strong now that it'll be back again. Three cheers for Offaly. Hip,hip ... hip,hip ... hip,hip ... come on the Banner"

Anthony Daly [ 'Dalo' ]
3rd September 1995

www.clarehurlers.com