Enda McEvoy: Liam Cahill's jigsaw taking shape, Clare can remount

Cahill’s team could yet be formidable. The outline of the jigsaw is on the table. One or two of the pieces in the middle remain to be fitted in the right way

RELENTLESS: Mark Kehoe of Tipperary celebrates after scoring his side's fifth goal during the All-Ireland SHC win over Offaly at Glenisk O'Connor Park in Tullamore. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Seven days ago, following the Men Who Come from the Fair at Shinrone local derby in Tullamore, the Offaly manager Johnny Kelly gave the most frank and insightful post-match interview of this or any other season. Of the myriad excellent points he made, two may detain us for the moment.

The first was the big-picture argument. The problem that led to Saturday’s rout wasn’t the deficiencies in the championship structure, Kelly posited, but the deficiencies in the National League structure. The likes of Offaly weren’t meeting the likes of Tipperary in springtime, so how could they possibly be steeled for them in high summer?