Winning two All-Ireland senior hurling medals without ever tasting provincial success puts John Conlon's career in rare company.
Having made his Banner championship debut back in 2009, the Clonlara man was a forward when Davy Fitzgerald led the county to the summit in 2013. Eleven years later as Clare crossed the Shannon with Liam MacCarthy for just the fifth time, he was firmly in a defensive role having held down the number six jersey for the past number of years.
And yet it could have been so different. He has had his fair share of injuries, but a cruciate setback in 2020 had his inter-county career at a crossroads.
His commitment to come back stronger than ever has borne serious fruit. In 2023, having finally got the better of neighbours Limerick in a championship game – it was the round-robin, rather than the provincial decider – he felt that at 33 years of age, he was in the shape of his life. An All-Star later that year cemented that view.
The fire burns as strong as ever to don the saffron and blue jersey.
"The body is still going to get to those levels, but when it gives up, or the mind isn’t there anymore, then I suppose it will be time to give up," Conlon says, who was speaking at the launch of the 'eir for all’ Poc Tapa Challenge.
An inability to get over Limerick in a Munster final – they have lost three on the spin – and successive All-Ireland semi-final defeats to Kilkenny had some questioning whether Brian Lohan could take his county from nearly men to the promised land.
His sixth year in charge yielded ultimate honours, Cork undone in extra-time after a game for the ages.
One of the few players on the panel to remember Lohan in his pomp as a dominant full-back in that great Clare team of the 90’s, Conlon believes the manager’s spirit has rubbed off on the team.
"He was such a dog of a man and a fantastic full-back," he tells RTÉ Sport.
"Anyone that came in there, there was no prisoner taken. He brings that across in management as well. He is ruthless, but really caring at the same time. He would do anything for us. We love playing for him.
"The main thing he has done is get everyone in the county behind us, getting us to play in a way that suits Clare hurling. Going for it, playing an exciting brand of hurling.
"Since Brian has come in, we have been really resilient. We’ve had our setbacks, but we always come back swinging. It’s been a great time to be a Clare hurler."
Conlon, who leads the county’s roll of honour in championship appearances, acknowledges that a Munster medal would be a nice addition to the cabinet.
Since their last success in 1998, the record reads seven defeats from seven, including the last three finals against Limerick.
It’s not uncharted waters for the Banner. Prior to their memorable breakthrough in 1995, the Banner had lost 11 on the trot since their previous Munster win of 1932.
The latest tilt begins on Sunday next at home to the Rebels, a mouth-watering prospect given last year’s All-Ireland decider and Cork’s early season form in storming to a league title.
"A Munster medal matters to everyone that plays hurling in Munster. Since I was a young lad, the two days you loved were a Munster final and an All-Ireland final. We have had a few good opportunities (in those seven defeats) to get over the line and we just didn’t.
"We haven’t won it in a long time. It would be a massive medal to win this year, but if you are given the option of a Munster or All-Ireland, you are picking an All-Ireland every day."
While Clare will ply their trade in 1B next year, Cork swept to a national title with a blistering show of arms up front, a run that included taking the Banner for 6-20 last month in Ennis.
Conlon admits lessons were learned that day.
"We conceded some goals that if you conceded them in club junior B game you’d be really disappointed. We have gone after that in the last few weeks. We still have a lot of work to do and Cork are one of those teams if you aren’t ready for it.
"They came at it with massive intensity and firepower, and we didn’t. If we come at it with the same application in terms of defending, we are in for another big hammering. That is the challenge ahead, but all teams aren’t really sure where they are.
"You won’t know until the first round of the championship where you really lie."
At this stage of his career, every championship and every game is savoured that little bit more.
Last year’s exploits will live long in the memory, but the highs are marked not just in wins. That attitude might be more easily shaped with Celtic Crosses in his back pocket, but asked why he keeps coming back, it’s the memories as much as the medals.
"It’s that feeling of running out into a packed Cusack Park. It gives you goosebumps. The day we played Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds against Limerick in 2023 in the Munster final.
"I know we lost, but I always say it was probably one of the best occasions I have ever been involved in. I have never seen the motorway so packed and us coming up the inside shoulder. The excitement around the place.
"My own home place is only 10 minutes away. Those moments in inter-county hurling…that tribal feeling. That’s why I keep coming back, for that excitement."
Watch Clare v Cork in the Munster Hurling Championship on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Watch The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
Follow a live blog on all matches on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates from around the country on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
