Mid-term break works well for Madden

SPORTING TEACHERS:THE MID-TERM break over, Donal Madden was back at his desk at St Munchin's College in Limerick on Monday morning. His pupils didn't need to ask what teacher was up to during the week off, they knew all about Sir's exploits.

Madden fulfilled a long-held dream in being part of the Clonlara team that ended an 89-year wait by claiming the Clare senior hurling championship last Sunday week, matching the feat of his father Pat, who won a Galway title with Tommy Larkin's back in 1971.

The dream died last Sunday when Cork champions Sarsfields proved too strong for Clonlara in the Munster quarter-final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, but Madden remains upbeat after the most memorable week of his sporting life.

The fact that six of his team-mates were former pupils of his at Munchin's added to the sense of pride and achievement for a player who transferred to the south-east Clare club two years ago from Tulla.

Therein lies a tale, as the club he played with for 20 years, and where his father coached, went on to win last year's Clare hurling crown after their own long wait.

"I transferred two years ago after buying a house in Clonlara and the year I left they bridged a gap of 74 years to go and win a senior county championship," said Madden.

"I wouldn't say I went too early, I made a decision and stood by it. And we won an intermediate championship with Clonlara last year and went on to win the Munster intermediate. So that gave us the momentum to go on and do what we did this year at senior level." What they did do was upset all the predictions in beating Newmarket-on-Fergus to claim the Canon Hamilton trophy for the first time since 1919.

It was particularly apt as the famous GAA-loving priest, who was involved in bringing the 1947 All-Ireland final to New York, was born and reared in the village.

Full-forward Madden hit seven points in Clon's 1-12 to 1-9 victory, setting off memorable scenes at Cusack Park in Ennis before a triumphant return home.

Madden takes up the story. "When we arrived back in the village it was on the back of a low-loader, there was no open-top bus. "It was very natural, the amount of people in tears, it was a unbelievable feeling.

"What is has done for the village is phenomenal. There's only about 700 people here and I would say 600 are touched by the GAA and are involved in the club in some way." Clonlara's fortunes were closely followed by Ireland and Munster prop Marcus Horan, who played hurling for the club up to minor level and was also a student at St Munchin's.

"Marcus Horan has been a fierce support to us throughout the whole year," revealed Madden. "He texted me from the Heineken Cup game at Sale, he's very proud of where he comes from."

Of course it was in rugby that Horan made his name, rising up through the ranks from St Munchin's to play such a huge part for province and country over the last few years.

He also played hurling at school as did fellow Munster and Ireland rugby stars Keith Wood and Anthony Foley, while Donnacha Ryan is the latest past pupil to make a name for himself in the Irish rugby set-up.

Madden is aware that rugby is still king in the Limerick school, but is keen to point out the two sports enjoy a symbiotic relationship amongst the pupils.

"St Munchin's is a huge rugby school. But if you go way back, you'll find Munchin's won Harty Cups long before they ever won at rugby.

"In 2002 Munchin's won the rugby senior cup for the first time in donkey's years. The same year we also won the senior hurling as well. It was only at 'C' level but what harm, that's the level we were at. There was nine who played on both teams and Donnacha Ryan was full-forward that day," added Madden.

So it's back to the day job of teaching maths and Irish to the students for Madden after a memorable week,

"I have a simple rule with the pupils. When I go down the field when school is over my name is Donal and once nine o'clock comes the next day it's Sir again."