Ballyea's village heroes can eye bigger prize

Ballyea came into yesterday’s Munster club hurling final as unknowns, if not exactly outsiders. They had only recently collected a first Clare senior championship and needed a last-gasp goal to take experienced Thurles Sarsfields to extra-time in the semi-final.
By contrast, their opponents trailed a fair reputation as they came up the M8 from Cork. Glen Rovers put back-to-back county titles together this season and could look to a searching test against Patrickswell in their last outing. They had anniversaries - 100 years since their founding, 50 since collecting a first Munster club - which could be viewed as omens by the superstitious, and by those who appreciate consistency in their traditional powerhouses.