Clare on a roll into Croker for final

THOUSANDS can’t get a ticket, but that won’t stop the Clare bandwagon from rolling into Dublin over the weekend.

The messiah Loughnane is gone but they’re still thinking about winning All-Irelands down in the Banner.

Clare were never ones to skim on colour, and cars, tractors, houses, gates and pets have been painted in support Cyril Lyons’ team ahead of Sunday’s final against Kilkenny.

One devoted fan even painted her lawn in the hope that it might inspire the lads.

“It looks good and we’re just trying to give all the support we can to the lads,” said Patricia Guinnane in Clarecastle.

Frank Daniels, owner of the Alymers Rest in Ennis, has coloured his Toyota Starlet, which he plans to drive to Dublin. “They will be able to see us coming anyway and there should be some great craic on the way up. We spent about a week painting it,” Frank said.

Vehicles that will never see Dublin are also getting the treatment. Tom McKenna’s wife Connie even fixed the Clare colours to their tractor in Ogonnelloe. Others like Anthony Daly, who led his side to All-Ireland victory in 1995 and 1997, has seen it all before.

“It’s totally different this time around and I’m able to enjoy these days in the lead up to the game,” he said.

And there are plenty reasons to dream about another banner day in the new Croker, he feels.

“There is a good feeling on the ground about this game. The back door has been good to us this year and we’ve a great record in Croke Park,” he said.

However, there are fears that they won’t be enough tickets to go around with at least 25,000 Clare fans travelling to Dublin.The county only got 7,000 tickets in the first ticket allocation. “People have been waiting and waiting for tickets to come back from other counties, but it’s not happening. I think that thousands will travel without a ticket,” Anthony Daly said.

Former Clare manager Fr Harry Bohan believes the pre-match atmosphere is different to 1995 and 97.

“I’ve never seen it so cool and calm. There’s a very positive feeling in the air. The calm has allowed the lads to become very focused,” he said.

Iarnród Éireann confirmed last night that there were no more train tickets available on the special rail services provided for the match.