Home comforts not just all in the mind

Last Monday, our new columnist Brian Gavin gave a vivid glimpse into the pressures championship hurling can place on a referee as well as touching upon an under-appreciated dynamic at play this summer.

Looking ahead to next Sunday when Ennis stages its first Munster senior hurling championship game in 25 years, Gavin opined that Clare, especially coming off an opening-game loss in Cork, would “be a different animal” for the visit of Waterford.

“The crowd there will be very vocal,” Gavin predicted.