Ikem Ugwueru backs Clare for All-Ireland quarter-finals
Despite suffering a third consecutive Munster final defeat to Kerry last weekend, Ugwueru insists there are positives to take from another provincial decider appearance, not least their confirmed place in the All-Ireland series.
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Clare will face Down, Monaghan and the winners of the Leinster final between Meath and Louth in a group devoid of any Division One side — something Ugwueru sees as an opportunity.
'On any day, anyone can beat anyone,' he said.
'If I reference Meath against Dublin, everyone would have said Dublin would easily win, but Meath showed up on the day and got the result.
'It was the same with Down — they almost beat Donegal. If one or two points or a goal had gone their way, they'd have taken it.
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'The group is evenly balanced. We won't take anyone for granted. We'll take each game one by one and not look too far ahead.'
Clare's progress under Colm Collins and now Mark Fitzgerald has been evident, with three successive Munster finals and a quarter-final appearance in 2022 demonstrating their consistency at the top end of the provincial and national game.
Although they've failed to pick up a win in the group stages over the past two seasons, Ugwueru sees clear signs of development and believes Clare are building a team for the long term.
'Any county can use it as a blueprint — we all started somewhere. It's about the team and the collective.
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'If you buy into it, you can work your way up. Clare were in Division Four, then Three, and then spent years in Division Two.
'Some of the lads on the team have gone through that journey. We all have that fight in us, and we're using it to our advantage.
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'We're not going to end it this year — this could take a few years, and all of us are willing to do that.'
With Down up first next weekend, Ugwueru says the goal is to progress beyond the group — and see where that momentum might lead.
'We got to the last eight a couple of years ago and lost to Derry. Getting out of the group is an achievement for any county in the Sam Maguire.
'That's our biggest aim now — to put our best foot forward and, when we do get out, challenge the bigger counties. That's the goal for me, and for the group.'
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