Bannermen have the game to tame Galway

IT was 1999 when the hurlers from Clare made their last appearance at Croke Park. Presumably the wait has felt much longer due to the fact they had made Croker almost their home over the four preceding seasons.

And by coincidence the opposition in tomorrow's Guinness All-Ireland quarter-final is provided by Galway the county they met on their long overdue return in 1995 and on the occasion of their last visit three years ago.

The 1995 victory (3-12 to 1-13) marked the first of their giant-killing acts in the championship at national level. It was achieved with just five of the current team, Davy Fitzgerald, Brian and Frank Lohan, Sean McMahon and Jamesie O'Connor. Manager Cyril Lyons was a substitute (as was Brian Quinn) and although he wasn't introduced, he got his chance late in the All-Ireland final victory over Offaly.