Patrick Donnellan has been retained as Clare senior hurling team captain for 2013.

Hurling Development Committee (HDC) chairman Tommy Lanigan has raised doubts about a return to an eight-team top flight in the National League.

Only one injury for Cork as they prepare for Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final against Kilkenny, goalkeeper and captain Dónal Óg Cusack ruled out for the season.

Caimin Morey has been brought into the Clare team for tonight's All-Ireland SHC second phase qualifier against Galway in Salthill (throw-in 7pm).

THE first question I have to ask this morning: Where was this Clare performance all year?

AJ LEIBLING was right, all those years ago: there is still a kick in style and tradition carries a nasty wallop.

Tipperary 4-19 Clare 1-19

Clare will field a team containing three Championship newcomers when they clash with Tipperary in Sunday's Munster SHC semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds (throw-in 4pm).

I HEARD a lot of complaints in recent weeks from Clare and Limerick about being in Division 2; on the basis of what I saw in Ennis on Saturday, both counties were where they deserved to be this year.

THIS could have been an afternoon fraught with tension for the Clare hurlers but transpired to be a carefree stroll in Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday.

Clare 4-28 Carlow 0-8

CLARE manager Ger O’Loughlin bemoaned the imbalance in the second tier of the hurling league after Saturday’s mismatch at Cusack Park, Ennis.

Clare 6-23 Kerry 1-18

CLARE had no problem at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday in dismissing the challenge of Down in the Allianz HL Division 2.

Clare 5-22 Down 0-06

THIS is not the best of weeks to be an intercounty hurler in Clare and Wexford.

DESPITE horrendous weather conditions at floodlit Mourneabbey on Saturday, Cork and Clare still served up a decent game in this senior hurling challenge ahead of the commencement of the league next weekend.

The Cavan and Dublin footballers, along with Clare hurlers, claimed victories in what was a depleted GAA programme of fixtures today.

BALLYOGAN HOUSE is not a property for the average buyer, even if the guide price is half of what it would have been in the boom.

THIS is a big modern house, an American barn with floors you could eat your dinner from and 25 pristine acres with primed, paddock fencing.

IN any hurling team, regardless of grade, the half-back line is the foundation – a truism.

A DULL afternoon in Thurles yesterday, cold and drizzly, dense and low-lying grey clouds enveloping the whole area; reflective of those conditions, out in Semple Stadium a pitiful crowd of just over 11,000 to witness a fixture which, only a few years ago, was one of the glamour clashes on the GAA calendar.

On the way into Semple Stadium yesterday I met three fine Waterford men, Tony Wright, Michael O’Donnell and a man with a great Clare name but who assured me he was all Waterford, Paddy McNamara.

AFTER all the excitement of last Sunday’s game between Cork and Tipperary – and fair dues to both teams for that – I’m beginning to wonder if there is any game at all on this weekend in Munster?

Clare manager Ger O'Loughlin has handed Championship debuts to seven players for Bank Holiday Monday's Munster SHC semi-final against Waterford at Semple Stadium (throw-in 3pm).

AN Taoiseach Brian Cowen performed the official opening of Lusmagh’s & new clubhouse yesterday evening.

THERE was a distinct lack of quality to yesterday evening’s Allianz NHL Division 2 decider in Semple Stadium, but it is results, not aesthetics, that will concern Wexford boss Colm Bonnar.

Wexford 1-16 Clare 2-9

Clare 2-15 Kildare 0-11

NHL DIVISION 2:

NHL DIVISION 2:

Laois 1-11 Clare 2-12

Clare 2-24 Wexford 2-18

IT’S SAID a team reflects the personality of its manager; this All-Ireland SHC qualifier offered diametrically opposing arguments on that particular hypothesis. On the one hand, offering proof positive was Galway.

Clare 1-11 Galway 2-18

WELCOME to the minefield, that will be the reaction of the Clare public to Galway’s hurlers for their All-Ireland qualifier in Ennis this evening.

TIPPERARY manager Liam Sheedy insisted that it was “mission accomplished” after yesterday’s Munster SHC semi-final, despite another alarming second-half fade-out.

MIKE MacNAMARA tried hard to look on the bright side after seeing his Clare team go under in Limerick yesterday, but it wasn’t easy.

PUSHING the favourites to the absolute limit after having faced the prospect of a heavy defeat was of even less consolation to gallant Clare in the Gaelic Grounds yesterday when they were drawn against Galway in the qualifiers.

THE TWO games I saw this weekend – Tullamore on Saturday and Tipperary against Clare in Limerick yesterday – have restored my faith in hurling.

Clare 1-22 Tipperary 3-18

Tipperary 0-23 Clare 0-16

CLARE’S strong second-half showing in the Gaelic Grounds yesterday just fell short of redeeming a situation where they conceded three goals in a short period before the break.