Anthony Daly: A good night to be from Clare, but the air gets thinner now

Hopefully the good times are starting to roll again for Clare.

Clare's Aidan McCarthy is tackled by Tommy Walsh of Kilkenny. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Not long after the final whistle blew on Saturday evening, as I was making my way down to the pitch from the Kinnane Stand, I spotted Brian Lohan loitering near the tunnel. We had many great days there together as players and, while the hug we shared on Saturday was from a different realm to when we last embraced on that hallowed pitch, the moment returned me to those halcyon days.

Lohan was typical Lohan – no beaming smile or loud declarations. Yet you knew too that he was silently satisfied at having finally won some silverware. Now in his fifth year, Lohan has done a brilliant job in taking this team to where he has brought them, but having a trophy just gives greater validation to the merit of that journey.