Anthony Daly: The buzz in Clare is akin to All-Ireland final week

The build-up has been manic; 11,000 terrace tickets sold out in 11 minutes; Ianróid Eireann having to put on extra trains; busses packed to capacity. Madness, but great madness

Up for grabs: Clare Captain Tony Kelly and Limerick Captain Declan Hannon with the Mick Mackey Cup on the River Shannon separating Clare and Limerick ahead of the launch of the Mick Mackey Cup.

I got a delivery off DJ Daly’s in Pallinskenry during the week, flags and bunting, all Clare of course. The Daly family have been making hurleys and selling merchandise for years. It was great to make that call again because I hadn’t dealt with The Daly’s since our sports-shop closed down in 2011.

My priority after the delivery was trying to get flag poles for the flags because I wanted the pub decked out in as much saffron and blue colours as I could get away with. Yet I was also just keeping in synch with the rhythm and mood of the county because the place is nearly gone as mad as All-Ireland final week in 1995, 1997, 2002 and 2013.