Kilkenny must match Clare’s hunger

MENTION May 16, 2004 to Anthony Daly and he cringes.

Twelve months on, the Clare hurling manager is haunted by the memory of their capitulation to Waterford in the Munster SHC, a week after the Decies flopped in the League final. He calls it his "worst day" in hurling.

This afternoon, Clare met Kilkenny in the Allianz NHL Final in Thurles, yet Daly, like his team, have eyes on the horizon and a Munster SHC semi-final with either Tipperary or Limerick. But today offers an ideal preparation for the summer and a league title hasn't headed to Clare in almost 30 years. There is a certain irony in the fact that it was Justin McCarthy who inspired Waterford's championship win last May. He was the Clare coach with current selector Fr Harry Bohan the manager when the Banner won consecutive League titles in 1977 and 1978, to add to their only other success in 1946.