Arkansas to Croker is a long way to come for a draw

Bin the ticker-tape. Cancel the open-top bus. Ennis or Cork will have to wait a little longer to welcome Liam MacCarthy after yesterday’s sensational draw in the All-Ireland hurling final.

It was easy to spot the GAA treasurers afterwards — they were the ones smiling. The GAA will hoover up another €3.5m from the hurling final replay, rounding off a spectacular summer of bumper attendances.

Clare, who dominated the proceedings and led for most of the game, were hit by late goals from Cork and had to scramble an injury-time equaliser from an unlikely source.