HIS NAME WAS referenced on The Sunday Game. He’s the “mathematical genius” currently travelling the world before an expected return to the Clare hurlers next year.
His name is Paul Kinnerk, the man who helped to inspire a golden generation of Clare hurlers alongside former minor and U21 joint-managers Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor.
This year, former Limerick footballer Kinnerk was the missing link as Clare fell short of the All-Ireland quarter-finals for a second successive year.
Donal Óg Cusack spoke about him on Sunday night, and he also spoke about the lack of a killer instinct in this Clare team.
When goal chances presented themselves in the 2013 All-Ireland final replay, Clare were ruthless.
Less than two years on, Clare created opportunities but failed to convert them. There was something missing.
Cork’s new-found tactical nous was also a factor, of course, but since winning the All-Ireland two years ago, Clare have struggled.
Next year, they’ll operate in the relative backwaters of Division 1B and if, as expected, Fitzgerald decides to remain on, he’ll target promotion and another good championship run.
Taking last Saturday as an isolated performance, Fitzgerald insisted that Clare are headed in the right direction again.
Normally, the team manager is the best judge when it comes to assessing the merits or otherwise of his players and Fitzgerald did predict that Clare would struggle in 2014.
The expectation, however, is that they would regroup and become a major force this year, which hasn’t happened.
Taking into account how tamely Limerick bowed out of the championship, it’s safe to assume that Clare suffered major collateral damage after losing to the Shannonsiders.
Indiscipline cost them on two fronts – on the day when Patrick Donnellan was sent off and previously as Brendan Bugler’s suspension ruled him out.
Conor McGrath was missing too because of injury and Colm Galvin was still in Boston.
If Clare were at full strength for Limerick, they would have won and avoided stepping on a qualifier mine.
Victory over Offaly was a step in the right direction but the paucity of the Faithful County challenge must be taken into consideration.
Cork was a major step up and they flunked the test as the new-look system employed by the Rebels suffocated the space in which Clare like to operate.
There were some good moments supplied by the likes of McGrath, Tony Kelly and Seadna Morey and the nucleus of a really good team still remains.
But when Clare won the 1995 All-Ireland title, they added another two years later. It could be argued that the current Clare bunch is more talented than those great teams of the 90s but Ger Loughnane had leaders all over the pitch.
Think of Fitzgerald himself, the Lohans, Seanie McMahon, Anthony Daly, Ollie Baker and Colin Lynch. That’s seven and we haven’t even reached the forward line.
In the current Clare set-up, there’s David McInerney, Bugler, Conor Ryan, John Conlon and Kelly but they need more.
The 2013 All-Ireland experience was brilliant for these players but the past two seasons could serve them even better and sharpen their hunger.
Bugler, however, is fast approaching 30 this month and Donnellan hit that mark in June. They may consider their options over the winter.
Fitzgerald, too, will sit down with county board officials, his father and secretary Pat chief among them, to thrash out his future.
As things stand, there are two years left on a deal that was extended in the wake of the 2013 All-Ireland success.
Like Tipp in 2010, Clare looked set to dominate the hurling landscape but they’ve slipped down the pecking order since then. Some misfortunate has beset them along the way and the optics of the Davy O’Halloran and Nicky O’Connell situation weren’t great either, for all concerned.
Fitzgerald realises there are snipers in the Clare hills but he’s expected to remain true to his beliefs and having masterminded that Liam MacCarthy success two years ago, he deserves the time to put things right.
Time, however, is an increasingly precious commodity in elite sport and Fitzgerald knows this better than most.
Right now, he’s licking his wounds and whether you like him or not, Fitzgerald’s passion for Clare hurling is unquestionable.
To go again or not, that is the question. Kinnerk could provide the answer.
In 2016, Clare must launch another serious push for All-Ireland honours. A Munster title would be nice too, considering they haven’t won a senior provincial crown since 1998.
Clare have a golden generation of hurlers at their disposal. They must not squander the chance to make hay.
