NOTHING WRONG WITH IT
Limerick star Sean defends O’hara over Clifford storm and says that’s what you want a team-mate to do
BY
SEAN FINN believes fellow ‘stopper’ Padraig O’hora was unfairly pilloried over his League final exchange with Kerry’s David Clifford.
The Mayo defender appeared to take exception to something that went on in the aftermath of an incident that left his team-mate Jordan Flynn injured on the Croke Park surface.
Cameras caught O’hora up close and personal with Clifford afterwards, leading to a mini-storm on social media.
Finn, widely regarded as the top defender in hurling, had a different view of the incident.
“Funny word, stopper,” he said. “I was called that growing up. There has to be an element of aggression and a bit of meanness at times but it mightn’t look good when you see someone roaring.
“Padraig O’hora, he was giving plenty of it to David Clifford but if he was on your team that’s what you’d expect of him. He came under a lot of scrutiny, unfairly in my opinion, because that’s what you’d want him to be doing, to try and upset a fella like him.
“Maybe a bit of that but also composure too, you need to play the ball as well and not get too emotionally invested in the other player.
“I never really got too involved in other players but there might come a time where I mark a player and I am not able for him and I might have to bring that into my game.”
Finn had a rare shaky spell in Limerick’s recent win over Waterford when Dessie Hutchinson fired over three quick points.
But the Bruff man has been a model of consistency in grabbing four All-stars and three All-ireland titles.
He added: “I have learned a lot over the last couple of years in that marking high calibre forwards nowadays they are going to get scores.
“Growing up you might be a bit harsh, focusing on one particular player and if he got two points that you were not responsible for, you would maybe take it a bit harder.
“Sometimes you would be risk averse or be conservative and maybe accept a point more so than a goal. I’ve learned to accept a score rather than being punished that bit more.”
Finn never really wanted to be a corner back but it hasn’t stopped him going on to follow in the footsteps of
Paul Murphy and Cathal Barrett as one of the best in the game.
“I’ve been playing there since 17 so I wouldn’t know any different,” he said. “If I went up the field it would take quite a bit of time for me to adjust. That element of my game could improve. I could go up the field and maybe get a score which would be a surprise.”
Meanwhile, Finn has some sobering advice for managers and players who believe they can turn up, do a bit of roaring and shouting while not putting it in on the training ground.
Limerick’s workrate has stood out a mile in recent years and it was no different against Waterford 11 days ago.
“I just don’t think you can switch it on,” he said. “It has to be ingrained in the player. It just doesn’t happen. We don’t say on a Friday evening, ‘We’ll work hard on a Sunday.’
“It just has to be in you to know the benchmark. That’s what’s expected of the greatest players in any sport – they are expected to work hard.”