Kieran Shannon: Clare continue to max out while Cork are still Cork - for now

last Sunday against Meath showed that for now Cork are still the old Cork, and Clare are still Clare. One county underperforming, one maxing out

BATTLERS: Clare's Pearse Lillis and Louth's Shane Matthews, Sam Mulroy and Tom Jackson in action during the Allianz Football League match at Cusack Park, Ennis on Sunday. Pic: Eamon Ward

The hurricanes may return with February, just like so many league games last year were played in tempests, but with it being as mild as it was last Sunday, what else would you have been at than taking in a county match when you’d gone so long without one?

For me and the young fella, that meant once more making our way into Cusack Park, Ennis and all the enduring match-going traditions that go with it: though it’s strictly card-only to enter its gates nowadays, it’s still cash-only at its shop. The match programme, a packet of Mentos, a Lucozade and a cup of tea procured from what must be the most genial ground tuckshop in the country, we assumed our seats in the compact stand to see two familiar figures keeping a peripheral, almost casual, look at their teams’ respective warm-ups.