Rising Son: Darach Honan
09:35, 03 Nov 2009
Shane Stapleton
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At 6’6”, Darach Honan (pictured) is to the Clare under-21 hurling team what Peter Crouch has been to any team he has lined out for: a big targetman, but one possessing a great touch.
Last year really put Honan on the map, on a national level certainly. He was always touted as the next big thing in the Banner County but, in his first year as an under-21, to be selected as the inaugural Bord Gáis Energy Breaking Through Player of the Year in 2009 shows he certainly has all the credentials needed. Especially when you take into account the men he beat to the €1,000 prize: Joe Canning and Richie Hogan. All of which means the expectation level for Honan will likely rise, and he may be expected to do for his county what Joe has done for his: lead from the front at a very young age.
“I am absolutely delighted to have been selected for this award and for me it caps a hugely memorable year. To be recognised at this level is very special,” said Honan of the recognition.
“I am very proud to have played a part in Clare's first ever under-21 hurling All Ireland victory and I would like to pay special tribute to all my teammates and the coaching and management staff who have all worked so hard over the past few months. I hope now we can build and develop on our success and look forward to doing so in 2010.”
They might have won maiden Munster and All Ireland under-21 titles in 2008 but for a contentious call by an umpire against Clare’s goalkeeper in the Munster final against Tipperary. “I can tell you it was the worst possible feeling," he told Fired Up, “even though I wasn’t on the panel that long. We were depressed for weeks and weeks.
“This year (2009), though, [under-21 manager] John Minogue and the selectors didn’t really mention the incident. It was the players themselves who spoke about it, used it for determination. We had to set things right, and it was fantastic to set things right.
"I know myself I felt I could work harder, could train harder. I’ve tried to do that in the last 12 months. I had to forget about people saying it was the umpire’s fault and just work harder. Only Clare could win the All Ireland title for Clare and thankfully we did."
Honan was huge parts of that, scoring 2-02 against Waterford in the county’s first Munster final win at the grade and, a couple of weeks later, he hit 2-04 in a magnificent All Ireland semi-final extra-time win over Galway, for whom Joe Canning scored 4-7. Honan wasn’t quite so prolific in the final against Kilkenny, but his display was crucial nonetheless.
The Clonlara man goes to college in UCC and is under the tutelage of ex-Cork netminder, Ger Cunningham, who was involved with the Rebels senior management team for a number of years under Donal O’Grady and John Allen; years in which Cork went all the way. “Going to Cork was a big plus,” he says. “I’ve no doubt about that. First off, Ger Cunningham from St Finbarr’s, who was a great goalkeeper I’m told, is a really good trainer at UCC. Ger has helped everyone, including myself.”
As surely has the influence of his father, Colm, who played for the Banner County in the ’70s. In fact, his father won National League medals in 1976 and ’77 and an All-Star Award in ’78 at left half-forward. Those were far less fruitful days for the county, in terms of silverware, but the younger Honan thinks the current dull mood is a bit unnecessary.
“It’s understandable that people speak so much about the mid-90s, Clare had won so little before then. The father has told me that. Those guys – Anthony Daly as captain, Seanie McMahon, Brian and Frank Lohan, Jamesie, Davy Fitz – are still an inspiration to all hurlers for the county. I’m delighted they stayed playing so long because it means I have definite memories of them. The two All Ireland final wins came when I was very young.
“It’s really annoying to hear so many people in Clare say we have no talent in the county. Nobody gets better by living in the past. We need to move on and try to win more titles. There’s an awful amount of pessimism out there but I know a lot of young players are hoping for good times.
“Overall, we need to be more positive in Clare. Maybe the best thing about 2009 at under-21 is that the 2006 minors went nowhere. It shows that players can get a lot better if the structures are there and the emphasis is about performing on the day.”
Honan will be one from whom those performances will be regularly expected.
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