Clare Boss Explains Remarkable Turnaround After All-Ireland U20 Triumph

Clare U20 manager Terence Fahy paid tribute to the county-wide effort that has transformed underage hurling in the Banner after watching his side claim the All-Ireland U20 title with a commanding 4-20 to 2-16 victory over Galway in Thurles.

The win secured Clare’s first title at the grade since a side featuring Tony Kelly lifted the trophy in 2014 and completed another remarkable chapter in the county’s recent underage resurgence.

Captain Eoin Gunning lifted the cup after a superb team performance, with full-forward Thomas O’Connor firing home two goals, centre-forward Michael Collins produced a man-of-the-match display.

The victory was all the more impressive considering the quality of the Galway side Clare overcame, with the Tribesmen featuring senior players Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland and Cullen Killeen.

Just weeks after edging past Tipperary on penalties in the Munster final, Clare backed it up on the biggest stage.

Afterwards, Terence Fahy reflected on how far Clare hurling has come since a devastating 40-point defeat to Cork at minor level just five years ago.

Fahy agreed that day had become a defining moment, but insisted the transformation was about much more than one team.

Yeah, well, look, that was a defining day, alright, but we're the under-20 group.

There's a group above us led by Brian Lohan, you know, and he had a huge influence and has a huge influence on us from five years ago.

He would have moved mountains in Clare GAA to get us into a position where we can win these titles.

Fahy was eager to spread the credit throughout the county, highlighting the role of Clare’s academy structures, county board and previous management teams in building a pathway that is now delivering major honours.

I'm hugely supported by our county board.

And then underneath us we have serious men running a serious academy that our minors can come every year.

We got a great team here.

This team won at minor and Brian O’Connell was the manager and he had a super management team with Donal Moloney and all those lads.

Clare’s current U20 side had already won Munster and All-Ireland titles at minor level before repeating the feat at U20 grade, something Fahy felt was evidence of a genuinely special group.