“He eats very carefully, he came back in better shape probably than he left”

Brought to you in association with Centra #WeAreHurling

Far away in body but not in mind.

For six months, Shane O'Donnell was over on the other side of the world studying for a PhD in Microbiology.  The Ennis youngster took off for a scholarship in Harvard, one of the most prestigious universities in the world but he never once forgot about the west of Ireland. Clare hurling. The Munster championship. O'Donnell was always going to be back in time. And so he was. Walsh Park was the destination and the Éire Óg goal-hunter hit the ground running. Noel Connors was given the run-around of his life with O'Donnell's sharpness leading hurling folk to believe that Harvard University is indeed a hurling nursery. Teammate Podge Collins never had any doubts.

"I had no doubts that he wouldn't come back in any other way than he did," said the Cratloe club man at the launch of Centra's sponsorship of the All-Ireland hurling championship.

"He came back in better shape probably than he left. He's a good level of maturity. He's 25, it's not like you're sending a 19-year-old over to America."

"He knew going over there he couldn't do the dog on it but I don't know if he'll thank me for saying this but he's a celiac as well so he eats very carefully.

"Yeah. A Munster championship game, we're really looking forward to the opportunity. Tipperary have probably been the form team of the championship by a long shot. "They've come to Cusack Park a few times before. They're no strangers to it. They beat us in the Munster final in 2008 and they beat us in 2015 down there. Even last year when we played in the league we only won by a couple of points. "They have a lot of the same players and they're not going to be worried about coming to Ennis. They have had a good bit of success there."

Collins agrees that last season was his and Clare's most complete since 2013, and they're eager to build on that this year.

"Yeah. I think we played a nice style of hurling and we were consistent. Galway were very strong against us and we started both games very well. We were chasing our tails for the first 20 or 30 minutes but when we got into those games I thought they were very good games of hurling for the spectator and to be involved in. "Unfortunately we came out the wrong side of the result but it was definitely progress and hopefully we'll build on that next year. "Yeah probably. I've had a decent league campaign before that but that was about it with regards to the championship. That was a bit of a step up alright."

With new players standing up, such as Golden and the returning Shanagher, he feels the county are well placed to make it a big year.

"Shane Golden has been an excellent player for Clare. He was midfield at U21 on an All-Ireland team. He’s been there or thereabouts, probably been unlucky with injury. He had a very good Fitzgibbon with UL, he played very well in those games. That was probably a sign of the form he was bringing to the table. "He’s been good for us, he’s been good in the league. Then you’ve Diarmuid Ryan, who’s only 19. Aidan McCarthy, Gary Cooney and these guys who are coming in and adding an extra bit of energy that you need. They’re quite physically strong which is alarming for me and the older lads. When I was that age, I definitely wasn’t that strong. I think the S&C that they’re obviously doing underage is a lot better than it was when I was growing up, so they’re making a big impact.

Centra has teamed up with Limerick’s Cian Lynch, Clare’s Podge Collins, Galway’s Niall Burke, Cork manager John Meyler and Dublin’s Cliodhna O’Connor, to celebrate their tenth season sponsoring the GAA All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. 

Centra celebrates its association with the GAA All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship through its #WeAreHurling campaign. The campaign seeks to celebrate the individuals within those communities be it players, supporters, coaches, parents and even in many cases its own Centra local retailers that help make hurling great.