Banner can also find another level

So we’re all back in Croke Park for another day out. But Clare and Cork head there with a major worry — their defences.

In the drawn game Cork conceded 25 points, Clare 3-16, which suggests that neither defence was on top. And it begs the question, is defence a priority for either side? Is it always just about attack?

There were many examples in the first game but probably the best of all was the equalising point by Domhnall O’Donovan. Where was the marking? Apart from one or two guys on both sides, all the great catching and everything else, I wasn’t really very impressed by the defending on show. The problem now is the backs all seem to want to do what O’Donovan did and go forward to score the great point, but what about their first duty, to mark their man and keep the scoreline down?