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.

Ger O'Loughlin, better known as Sparrow, was one of the stars with a two-goal return, while Brian Lohan and McMahon were inspirational in defence. Interestingly, Joe Rabbitte and Ollie Canning (a sub) are the only survivors from the Galway side, then managed by Matty Murphy.

Three years ago, with Murphy again at the helm, Galway had the misfortune to lose a three-goal lead in the quarter-final and then be forced into a replay which they lost.

Considering that they were beaten in the Munster championship by Tipperary, Clare were obviously delighted to have been able to avail of the qualifier system introduced this year.

In their opening game they beat Dublin (3-22 to 1-8) and followed up with a win over Wexford (3-15 to 3-7).

Galway had a facile win over Down in their opening tie and won by nine points against a listless Cork side.

Cyril Lyons admits it's difficult to say if his team was tested in either of their last two games, particularly the most recent one against Wexford.

"At one stage in that game Clare looked as if they were going to win comfortably. But, there was a 10 minutes spell when Wexford came back and the game was in the balance. You can be sure that Clare will be tested for 70 minutes by Galway.''

In general, however, Lyons is pleased with the progress made since their narrow defeat by Tipperary, on a day when some of the more established team members didn't perform well.

John Reddan, controversially replaced that day, has established himself as Colin Lynch's midfield partner, Tony Griffin has done well in the half-forward line and, perhaps most notably, Niall Gilligan has been contributing in a way he failed to do against Tipperary this year or last year.

Lyons doesn't deny that his team faces a major challenge, based on what he knows of Galway.

"We have played them in three challenge as well as in the league and the one thing that jumps out at you is how good their forwards are when they are moving. The big challenge for us will be to try and limit them as much as we can.''

On the basis that I feel the Clare backs can rise to that challenge, I believe they will come through.

* Willie Barrett is the referee.