For all the progress the Clare footballers have made during Colm Collins’ six seasons at the helm, rising, as they have done, from the league’s basement tier up to Division 2, as well as securing the county’s first All-Ireland quarter-final appearance, game-to-game consistency at summertime has been an issue.

Clare midfielder Gary Brennan reckons a bigger degree of consistency could take them into the Super 8s.

For the fourth year in a row Clare followed their Munster Championship exit to Kerry with victory in their opening qualifier game of the summer, but the challenge for Colm Collins’ side is to to put

Big enough to expect a win, small enough to fear a defeat — that’s the position Clare are in travelling to Carrick-on-Shannon this evening.

Eoin Cleary admits the Clare footballers must improve their shot-selection if they are to shock Kerry in Saturday’s Munster SFC semi-final.

Long-serving Clare footballer David Tubridy has described their successful relegation escape “as a huge result for the future of Clare football”.

It was rather fitting that Gary Brennan and David Tubridy should deliver the scores which rescued Clare from relegation to Division 3.

When Cork football rolled out its 2024 vision document last month, it was generally applauded how pragmatic its proponents like Graham Canty were by acknowledging that Cork were now outside the top 10 teams in the country, in truth, a mid-table Division Two side, and a distant second in Munster.

It might only be the McGrath Cup, but the Cork footballers, for a variety of reasons, would be best served by ensuring the pre-season silverware is perched at the front of the team bus when it pulls out of Willie Clancy country tomorrow afternoon.

Nobody over-eggs anticipation like World Rugby. The draw for next year’s World Cup in Japan was made last May, a full 803 days before the start of the tournament.

Leaving Semple Stadium in Thurles last Saturday I was filled with renewed optimism that this Cork team have a great opportunity of winning our first Munster football title since 2012. Leaving Killarney yesterday, that optimism had been severely dampened by an outstanding 32-point haul from six-in-a-row chasing Kerry. A reality check indeed, writes Paddy Kelly.

After a weekend of missing one another, David Tubridy fields the call on Sunday evening. Before we delve into his 11 seasons with the Clare footballers or their latest trip to Killarney, there’s an afternoon of shocks to parse through.

Gary Brennan is well familiar with the shoes the Limerick footballers now walk in.

CLARE 3-12 LOUTH 1-11: Clare maintained their Allianz Football League Division 2 status, with a merited win over bottom side Louth at Cusack Park Ennis yesterday.

Clare 0-11 Tipperary 0-11: Tipperary selector, Shane Stapleton, was in hospital last night, after a collision with Clare forward, Jamie Malone. The latter received a straight red card.

Things we learned with Daragh Ó Conchúir

Mayo's up and down summer continues as a determined second-half showing at Ennis progressed Stephen Rochford’s side into the fourth round of qualifiers.

Six days on from lining out together for their club Ballyhaunis, Mayo’s Keith Higgins and Clare’s Eoghan Collins will be ready to tear into each other in Cusack Park on Saturday.

It was the toughest draw they could have got, goalkeeper Joe Hayes concedes. No mind, though. Such is Clare’s rising graph, they’re not unduly fazed by Mayo’s impending visit.

Allianz FL Division 2

What’s that about variety being the spice of life? If so, don’t tell the Kerry footballers, for the opposition they’ve encountered this summer has likened a half decent song stuck on repeat.

Clare made a little bit of history in Salthill this afternoon.

Clare only led once in this qualifier, but they hit the front when it mattered most, landing a winner as the game slipped into stoppage time to crown a great weekend for the Banner County.

Kildare 0-22 Clare 1-14: Despite losing out to Kildare in a high-octane shootout, Clare will still join their conquerors in Division 2 next year.

Clare 1-20 Longford 1-9: Clare’s promotion aspirations are still on track after a merited 11-point win over visitors Longford at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday.

Clare might have made an underwhelming fist of defending their All-Ireland title but 2014 has still been a very special year for Conor McGrath, confirming the 23-year-old’s status as one of the country’s leading hurlers.

Kevin McStay has received strong backing from several Mayo clubs in his bid to become the county’s senior football manager.

ALL-IRELAND SFC ROUND 3B

At 27, Paudie Kissane still hadn’t played Championship football for Cork. But he retired with one All-Ireland title, two Munster crowns, three National Leagues and an All Star award. And now he’s plotting Kerry’s downfall.

Colm Collins’ appointment as Clare football manager last October garnered but a few inches of space in the national papers.

Cratloe 0-10 Doonbeg 0-7

Newly-appointed Clare football coach Paudie Kissane is relishing the challenge, but insists it was not a case of choosing between playing for Cork and coaching the Banner.

Cork All-Ireland-winning footballer Paudie Kissane has became part of the Clare senior football backroom team.