Kieran Shannon: Why Clare and Derry can still be kings of July

Both counties have recent and tangible evidence of getting up the steps to lift a national trophy.

Clare’s Aidan McCarthy celebrates scoring his goal against Limerick. Picture: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Under the old GAA calendar the fate which befell Derry and Clare last weekend would have prompted numerous citations of lyrics popularised by Sinatra as would accompany previous early championship defeats of sides who had won the league.

Now that the season has a different structure and rhythm, Kay and Gordon’s lines no longer chime or rhyme with it. Both teams that were riding high in April have been shot down before we’ve even got to May.