For a second time in as many seasons, former Clare All-Star Seán Stack will be coaching the opposition against his home club Sixmilebridge. And this time his loyalties are all the more conflicted as the face-off comes in the Clare county final.
In 2013, Seán Stack guided the Limerick hurling club Na Piarsaigh to a Munster championship at the expense of Sixmilebridge who Stack represented as a player on route to winning seven county titles as well as a Munster title. And as the celebrations erupted around him, Stack was understandably subdued knowing he had just engineered the misery of his own people.
'My heart goes out to them. They have big ambitions and that’s where I’ll always belong. I’ll be in the ‘Bridge tonight, nothing surer. You’d have to be in it to understand it. I didn’t give a thought to the emotions involved until right now.'
Stack departed Na Piarsaigh but his destination did not bring him back to the helm of Sixmilebridge. Instead he deflected to Cloonlara and will be wearing their Bainisteoir bib today when he renews his battle with the homested in his 16th county final.
Speaking about the daunting task of battling against the 'Bridge for a second time, Stack said:
'It has been frustrating for me no doubt about that. There are 16 senior clubs in Clare and what are the chances of us meeting the 'Bridge in the final? Then again, there were 64 odd clubs in Munster and I ended up facing the 'Bridge in a final there too. Look it's an awkward position to be in but hurling people understand I have a job to do with Cloonlara.'
Seán Stack lined out at centre-back for Clare and won an All-Star in 1981. He played in eight provincial finals and made 28 appearances throughout his inter-county career of 14 years.
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