Gerry O’Connor says Clare must make scoring chances count in Championship 2018.

What’s another year? That is the rhetorical question the GAA hierarchy are asking as a motion to change the U21 All-Ireland hurling championship to U20 to fall into line with Gaelic football is being prepared.

Shane O’Donnell has praised the “absolutely fantastic” influence of former Clare coach Donal Óg Cusack.

Darach Honan has become the fourth member of Clare's 2013 All Ireland-winning panel to announce his retirement from inter-county hurling in recent weeks.

Ducking the issue of Sunday’s performance, Davy Fitzgerald seized the underdog factor, writes PM O’Sullivan.

Clare 1-23 Waterford 2-19: Domhnall O’Donovan may no longer be part of the panel but it’s fair to state Clare have lost none of their never-say-die virtues.

Maybe it’s because we’re so used to seeing Kilkenny front and centre after most games but it seemed they spent an inordinate amount of time behind their dressing room door on Sunday.

I came in early yesterday morning to watch the Clare U21s play Dublin in a challenge game in Clare-abbey, our old pitch in Clarecastle. 

Clare 2-28 Kerry 1-9: Sometimes you wonder if things happen by design or default in Clare but the unveiling of their €2.1m stand could not come at a better time next Sunday when a bumper crowd is expected at their Cusack Park HQ when the host rivals Limerick in a battle for promotion to the top flight of the Allianz Hurling League.

Clare SHC final

Clonlara 3-11

Cork 0-20 Clare 0-17

THERE are times when you go into a big game as manager knowing the gun is to your head, when you can almost feel the cold steel pressed against your temple.

It was just his second start in two years. But banging over a point in his first play against Offaly settled Darach Honan and allow him revel in the the Cusack Park mid-summer atmosphere.

Went out for the weekend. It lasted forever.

An “off the cuff” approach can steer Clare past Cork in Saturday’s sink-or-swim qualifier clash, according to two-time All-Ireland medal-winner Frank Lohan.

Clare 3-26 Offaly 0-15

One thing you need to know about Ger Cunningham is that he’s not a man for the big show.

Clare 2-20 Waterford 0-17

Wexford 2-25 Clare 2-22 (after extra-time)

Wexford 2-25 Clare 2-22 (after extra-time)

Clare 2-25 Wexford 2-25

In the lead-up to the game, I believed the first 20 minutes would prove crucial and that if one team got a grip it would be hard to seize the initiative back from them.

IT turned on a close-in free and a penalty. Of course it did.

Clare 3-19 Dublin 2-18

Clare boss Davy Fitzgerald refused to elaborate on his controversial midweek comments when quizzed by reporters after yesterday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A victory over Tipperary.

ALLIANZ HL DIVISION 1B:

County Boards are providing financial assistance to players hit with five-figure medical bills arising from hip surgery.

Eamon Dunphy perpetual trophy for post-match entertainment: Davy Fitz

Sixmilebridge 1-11 Clonlara 0-11

Last year’s beaten finalists, Cratloe, were knocked out of the Clare SHC on Saturday when their final group game against Crusheen finished in a 0-16 apiece draw.

Clare defender David McInerney was honoured as the 2013 Bord Gáis Energy Under-21 Hurler of the Year at the inaugural Team of the Year Awards ceremony last night in Croke Park.

Around 7pm last Saturday night, Darach Honan was on the flat of his back on a field in Dublin, looking up at the sky, or what he could see of it above the Croke Park floodlights.

Last Saturday night, Clare’s All-Ireland winning captain Patrick Donnellan spoke of a magnificent unbreakable bond between this Clare team and their manager, Davy Fitzgerald.

Tributes have been paid to Fergal Lynch, the longest-serving member on Clare's 2013 All-Ireland SHC winning panel, after he announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.