Clare and Cork played out one of, if not the best, All-Ireland hurling finals in history, with Clare beating Cork 3-29 to 1-34 on a historic Sunday. The sides were level on 14 occasions, but it was Clare that came out on top.
Ryan, speaking after the game, claimed that the missed chances had a big impact on the final result in Dublin.
“We probably didn’t take enough goal chances that we created,” Ryan said after the game. “We probably had another four or five goal chances except for the one that we did take, and we needed to take them. That was probably where the game lay.”
Ryan also added that Cork allowed Clare's keeper, Eibhear Quilligan, to dictate elements of play with short puckouts.
“We allowed too many short puckouts,” Ryan added. “They were able to work the ball out, and we lost our shape inside in the full-forward line, trying to tackle from behind. They worked the ball out very well. I think their stats were very good on that; the stats on their long puckouts probably weren’t as good in the first half.”
Cork's last win came in 2005, while their last All-Ireland visit was in 2021. This loss will sting because Cork overcame Limerick in the semi-final. However, despite the loss, Ryan admits he is proud of his players.
“We came up here to win the All-Ireland. That was our job. So, for two years now, we haven’t won the All-Ireland; that is a disappointment from our side of things.
“From my own point of view, I’m very proud of the way the lads represented the jersey and the way they are playing for the jersey. That is key. We are a very proud county. We have a proud tradition, and a lot of proud players have gone before us.
“It is key that those lads represent the jersey in that manner, and I think they did today. Obviously, we could have played better, we could have done different things, and we might have made a few better decisions on the line, but you’ll always look at that. The lads can hold their heads up high and be proud of their performance. At the same time, we go home without a trophy.”
