Emerging Banner face the toughest test of all

THERE have been three outstanding hurling games this year.

The senior All-Ireland final, obviously enough, the league final and the other great game was the All-Ireland U21 semi-final between Galway and Clare. This game had everything: intensity, fantastic scores, an outstanding game that Clare, maybe with a bit of good fortune, won after extra-time. I’d nearly put this game down as the top of the three games.

I’ll start with Clare. So far they’ve done really well for a team that won nothing at minor level. The management team have also done brilliantly. John Minogue and Cyril Lyons went about their business the right way. After the very controversial defeat of last year, they didn’t make a song and a dance but kept quiet about it. They have done tremendous work with the team, very well coached through the Munster campaign and again for the semi-final but the real test comes now in Croke Park tomorrow.