So how does a Nenagh Éire Óg sliotar end up in Donnacha Ryan's right hand before Racing’s Champions Cup quarter-final win over Clermont Auvergne on Sunday?

A Clare spokesman said yesterday that joint team managers Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney are “extremely disappointed with what happened, and that it should never have happened.”

Cork GAA officials are expected to bring an incident before last Sunday’s provincial hurling final to the attention of the Munster Council in the coming days.