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road to glory

'We never expected to be in this position' - Gary Brennan on the turning point in Ballyea's season

The new Munster champions lost by nine points in the first round of the Clare SHC.

THIS WAS A year to remember for Gary Brennan.

His achievements in 2016 with the Clare footballers alone were remarkable.

The 27-year-old captained them to the Division 3 league title in the spring, before his commanding performances at midfield saw Clare reach the All-Ireland quarter-final. Brennan was rewarded for his fine displays in the summer with an All-Star nomination.

Then Brennan picked up his hurley after a long inter-county football season and helped steer Ballyea to the Munster club hurling crown, three weeks after they lifted their first ever Clare title.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Back in May, Éire Óg gave Ballyea a nine-point beating after extra-time in the first round of the championship.

After that defeat, Ballyea doubled down on the basics. They haven’t looked back since.

“An All-Ireland semi-final was a long way from our thoughts after that first round defeat,” Brennan told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

“We always hoped to be in contention for a county title and the fact we lost the first round forced us to put that out of our heads. We just focused on each game as it came. It turned out to be a good formula for us.

“We never expected to be in this position, but we’re delighted to be there.

“There’s always been a lot of potential in the team. You only have to look at what we have. When you have Tony Kelly in the middle of the field you have a chance of doing something.

“The first day in our drawn county final for Clonlara, it looked like it mightn’t happen for us. I think once we recovered from that and got the belief to really go the second day, as each game goes on we’re growing in belief and we’re just enjoying the journey.”

Ballyea’s journey will continue into 2017 where they’ll play Galway champions St Thomas in the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Brennan continued: “I’m not sure how many guys are thinking about St Thomas now. I’m sure as the day goes on, thoughts will turn to that (game) and early February. It will really shorten the winter for us in Ballyea, and it’s great to have something to work on over the Christmas.”

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