Ask any man from Clooney-Quin and they’ll tell you Peter Duggan is a weapon, a sharpshooter and a deadly free-taker.
This man’s confidence has been building ever since Clare’s loss to Tipperary in the qualifiers last year when he came on and caught two balls over Paudie Maher’s head.
Ever since he was the reason his club made it to their first ever county final in 70 attempts last year. Duggan caught fire in the Clare championship. His strength, his size and his physicality made defenders stand off. His rolex wrists and lethal strike finished them off.
From frees, from sidelines and from open play he cleaned them out, from Feakle to Clonlara and all over the county.
- 2-13 against Feakle in a group stage game.
- 0-12 against Clonlara in the semi-final.
- 0-10 in the drawn final against Sixmilebridge.
- 0-10 in the replay.
Ever since he scored 52 points in the Fenway Classic that we know doesn’t matter a damn in the greater scheme of things but the point was Duggan was so far ahead of every player from Dublin, Tipperary, Galway and Clare in Boston.
He had a frightening head of steam built up going into this League opener against Tipperary. And Clare fans know how important he is to them. That innate ability to win primary possession, that giant stride and bustling physicality that puts the fear of God into defenders.
That’s exactly what they’ve been missing for the last five years when other teams found out how to deal with their short-passing game and their small nippy players.
That’s why Peter Duggan will be essential to Clare this year. That’s why helping him catch fire should be the top of Donal Maloney and Gerry O’Connor’s agenda, especially in the league when they can afford to give chances.
But there’s a trend creeping into the GAA recently. A trend that’s unrealistic, that’s unfair and that is down to managers and their unrealistic expectations.
It’s where players – young players, debutantes, incomers, players eager to make a mark are given a starting chance – but is it really that much of a chance where if they miss one ball or make one mistake, that they’re looking to the sideline anticipating being subbed?
Don’t get us wrong, sport is a results business – but sometimes – and those times are days like today, in the first round of the National League when the bigger picture has to be considered.
How are these players expected to catch fire, to build confidence, when they’re living on that needle edge of worry?
Duggan got off to a fine start in Cusack Park on Sunday. He hit two fine frees, and picked off two hard-earned points from play for the Banner within 30 minutes of action.
Over the shoulder accuracy from Clare’s Peter Duggan pic.twitter.com/ELMwjeIYdu
— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 28, 2018
He also hit two frees wide. Two frees that were from 70, nearly 80 yards out and at tough angles. Frees that would’ve taken something extraordinary to raise a white flag.
Then, just like that and because of that – the free-taking duties were handed to David Reidy, who was ripping it up from open play.
So what’s going to be the story the next day? Will Duggan start off hitting them? Will Reidy take over if Duggan misses one? This is the type of stuff that creates doubts in a player’s mind, that shatters their confidence.
A free-taker needs to feel confident. Needs to feel that they have the backing of their team. Doesn’t need to have that added pressure that if they miss one, they won’t strike another.
A team needs one confident free-taker. Because when you’re chopping and changing like that it just gets messy.
The Clare management weren’t the first and certainly won’t be the last to make a decision like this that screams of rashness. They only had to peek down the sideline to see Michael Ryan whipping Tipperary half back Tom Fox off after 35 minutes on his inter-county debut.
Colin Ryan, a recently retired Banner Legend, and a lethal free-taker in his day summed it up best. He knows the pressure involved, he knows the confidence required.
It’s a results business, but a vote of confidence will reap rewards in the long run.
Peter Duggan taken off frees after missing two from 70 yards+…. absolutely baffling if he going to be champ free taker #confidence
— colin ryan (@Ryan5C) January 28, 2018
No, at the game the Call was made by management here on sideline
— colin ryan (@Ryan5C) January 28, 2018
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