Alone, Shane O’Donnell may well stand as Clare’s sole full-forward line representative in Thurles on Sunday but as he showed in the relegation play-off in Kilkenny last month when he gave no less a defender than Paul Murphy a long afternoon it suits him to a tee.

One of Limerick’s longest-serving hurling fans is hoping divine intervention can procure a win for the Treaty men in Croke Park against Clare in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final on Sunday.

Clare and Limerick staff members at Shannon will today turn up for work togged out in their respective hurling colours as All-Ireland fever takes off at the airport.