Peter Duggan is the man to save Clare hurling

Niall McIntyre

There’s only one man for the job.

Winning the 2013 All-Ireland hurling title raised hopes of a golden future for the Banner County.

On that September day there wasn’t a a member of their squad over the age of 30. The average age of the 26 players named was just over 23. Nine of them were aged 21 or lower. Davy Fitzgerald’s side were on top, as were Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor’s under-21s who had won the 2012, 2013 All-Irelands.

The men of the west had legitimate reason to believe they could go on to dominate the hurling world for a few years.

It hasn’t happened. In fact, it’s been four years of struggling highlighted by the fact that they haven’t made it back to Croke Park since.

They also have only won one game in Munster since.

Why?

One of the most obvious reasons in Clare’s struggles has been their inability to win their own puck-outs, or those tough high balls.

They’re a small team. They’re full of wristy hurlers who are capable of playing that short passing game. Take Podge Collins, Cathal O’Connell, Colm Galvin and David Reidy for example.

What they lacked is a big man in the half forward line. A big man who can catch those high balls. A big man who has the pace and strength to get away from his man when he wins them. A big man who has the touch, strike and skill to score or lay it off to these fast runners when he wins them.

Some claimed John Conlan was that man. Conlan’s play didn’t have the zip they needed, and he regularly is tempted to take on wild shots when he wins these high balls.

Peter Duggan is the man for the job.

Unreal stuff from the big man! https://t.co/ir1einWlst

— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) November 19, 2017

The Clooney-Quin forward didn’t start for Clare in last year’s Championship. He’ll be a key man for them this year.

The abrasive half forward fired his club all the way to their first Clare senior final in more than 70 years.

He racked up some serious totals along the way.

2-13 against Feakle in a group stage game.
0-12 against Clonlara in the semi-final.
0-10 in the drawn final against Sixmilebridge.
0-10 in the replay.

Clooney-Quin were unlucky to lose out in that replay, but Duggan, who raised white flags from play, 65s and even sidelines couldn’t be faulted.

He emerged as a sharpshooter during that campaign, and he hammered that home on Sunday at the Fenway Hurling classic.

His displays in both the semi-final against Tipperary, and the final against Galway were different level. He was a sight to behold in full flight. His touch, sharpness and power on the ball meant no defender could lay a finger on him

Now we know it’s a meaningless pre-season outing, but the man accounted for 52 of Clare’s 100 points. He scored 12 goals in a one-man destruction mission.

Clare supporters are getting excited, and are urging their county to build their team around the 6 ft 3 in assassin.

https://twitter.com/liamothebear1/status/932359047147409413

https://twitter.com/ClareSupporter/status/932354856412688390

https://twitter.com/ClareSupporter/status/919588020508155905

https://twitter.com/ClareSupporter/status/932349238767489024

https://twitter.com/ClareSupporter/status/932352436521652224