Anthony Daly: Statement win for Cork but Clare were free of real desire

It was a strange afternoon in Ennis, a bit of a freak, but there was no doubting that Cork were on a different level.

Patrick Horgan of Cork in action against Adam Hogan of Clare during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Clare and Cork at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

IT was like a championship Sunday in Ennis yesterday. The sun was shining. The town was packed. The place was buzzing.

I went for a couple of bottles of beer in the Diamond Bar on O’Connell St to watch Kilkenny and Tipp, before walking up through the throngs on Abbey St and across Harmony Row before meeting Mark Landers — by chance, may I add — just as I was going into Cusack Park.