We can see Cleary now rain is gone

THESE days, the close season can’t end quickly enough for Clare’s footballers says Eoin Cleary. Appearing in the All-ireland quarter-finals for the first time last year has made representing the county a whole lot more attractive. The fact that the Banner men also claimed and then retained Division Two status in the League proves they are no mere flash in the pan. “I remember after 2015, it was a very poor year,” admitted Cleary, who hit an impressive 1-31 during this year’s League. “We barely stayed up in Division Three and we had two very disappointing losses and we were out of the Championship very early. “The following year it was a struggle to get lads to training at the start of it but, fortunately, enough lads committed to it, gave everything. “Then those guys that didn’t commit in 2016 came back this year because they saw these guys are successful, ‘we want to be part of this’. “When you lose, it’s very hard to coax guys back into it: some guys went to America, some guys opted out (after 2015), they felt they didn’t want to give the commitment. “I remember one member, who shall remain nameless, remarked to me, ‘Why should you train for whatever amount of months of the year to get hammered by Cork or Kerry?’. “I remember thinking that guy is no good to you anyway. That was the reality. A lot of guys thought like that and they didn’t come back. “Fortunately now this year we’re at a level where we’re closer to the likes of Cork and Kerry. You’ve got a good crop of guys there who are committed and have the right attitude. It just shows what you can do.” If they beat Limerick in Ennis tomorrow it will set up a third Championship clash with Kerry in 12 months and Cleary believes Clare can go from strength to strength. He said: “Of course there is a bit of pressure because we got to a very high level last year. We’re no longer going to be a surprise package. “It’s like any addiction, you get a feel for it and you want more. “We want to be near the Kerrys and Dublins again. “We want to be at that top tier. “That’s the reason we train and we give up our lives for this.”