Brendan Bugler knows all about it.
The breakthrough performance of the hurling weekend just past was that of Michael O’Malley for Clare.
The chance arose for O’Malley after David Fitzgerald picked up an injury in Fitzgibbon Cup action for UL during the week. The Kilmaley man grasped that chance with both hands, putting down a man-of-the-match performance and scoring two points in a noteworthy performance.
Clare demolished Cork at the weekend. Their intensity was on the money from the word go, their hunger and desire meant Cork didn’t get a puck of it.
@SMBGAA Seadna Morey @KilmaleyGAA Michael O Malley Rock solid at half backs get back to Back scores for a rampant banner@Allianz NHL DIV 1 Round 3@GaaClare 0-19@OfficialCorkGAA 0-9
45 minutes#GAA#AllianzLeagues#GAABEO@LifeFMsport pic.twitter.com/OqYsKcC6zq— Joe Seward (@JoeSeward1) February 18, 2018
Their newcomer at wing back embodied this savage desperation from the word go. He hassled, he harried, he hounded and when the ball came his way, he built up a frightening head of steam and left the Rebels sitting.
Brendan Bugler manned those flanks for years in the saffron and blue. Plucking balls from the sky, clearing his lines, saying no to attackers and fist-pumping fire and fury was always guaranteed with the Whitegate man at half back.
At the weekend, the youngster showed Clare shouldn’t be too worried about filling the shoes of the recently retired Banner legend. Bugler himself sees the potential.
“Mikey has always been a great hurler at underage,” he said on The GAA Hour Hurling Show.
His own versatility came against him.
“He didn’t really have a settled position though, with Mick, you could play him corner forward, you could play him at midfield. He never really had a settled position.”
And then last year, O’Malley was on the receiving end of the most dreaded phone-call in the GAA. At 20-years of age, he was dropped off the county senior panel.
“He was on the panel straight out of minor, but he never really established himself. Then last year, he got dropped and I think it was the best thing that ever happened to him to be honest with you.”
That was the moment he changed everything. From flair player to trusted hard-worker. That’s brought him to where he is today, with an exciting future in store.
“He seems to have come back this year with a totally different attitude. He was always one of these flair players though. He scored two points at the weekend, yet Mikey has been doing that all of his career.
“What really made him yesterday was his work-rate. He was getting little flicks in. He brought a phenomenal work-rate. His attitude seems to be bang on this year,” said Bugler.
“It was great to see him doing so well.”
Bugler is unsure whether O’Malley will nail a starting spot this year, given the competitiveness in Clare’s backline, but he will give managers Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor peace of mind. An option.
“Clare had the same six backs playing on the first day and the second day, and we were wondering whether we’d have cover. Mikey stepped in on Sunday and he had a phenomenal game so, now we know that, right if Davy Fitz is out, if Seadna Morey is out, we’ve a guy here who’ll come in and who’ll do a great job for us,” he said.
As for the fist-pumping, that just comes with the territory.
“I taught him well, didn’t I?”
You can listen to Brendan Bugler chatting about Clare and much more from Wooly and Michael Carton on Monday’s GAA Hour Hurling Show.
