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Published 18:10 15 Jun 2020 BST
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"Babs probably got a rush of blood to the head," says Joe Dooley now. "We weren't in a very bad situation - whatever happened, he got a rush of blood when he got surrounded by a couple of reporters.
The Offaly team were like 'sheep running around in a heap,' said Babs.
"The players just sail along. There's not a lot of disappointment in that dressing-room," he continued...And that was the end of Babs.
"And he said 'I'm your new manager,' he says like that. I'm Michael Bond from Loughrea!"
Bond was different to Babs.
"None of us would have known him, but he was so positive. His people management was amazing. He was a school principal who'd been dealing with people all his life and I suppose that's where he got it from, but he gave us confidence again, he gave us a licence to do what we thought was the right thing, and told us not to wait for him," said Dooley.
"We had a lot of very skilful players, but a lot of thick and determined sort of players too. We were seen as a team who enjoyed the off season and while we did, we did a bit more in the on-season too. A couple of fellas liked a pint, but they loved hurling and loved giving their best for Offaly and Michael Bond bought into us, he got the best out of us."
In the back-door Offaly steadied the ship. The big punch was coming.
Jimmy Cooney would never referee an inter-county game of hurling again. Offaly got their replay and the third day was a step too far for an exhausted and Lynch-less Clare.
"We came through the back-door," bellowed the victorious captain Hubert Rigney from the steps of the Hogan Stand, "but we're going out the front."
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