Clare’s power and workrate to get them through

SEVEN weeks ago, in Cusack Park, the Cork hurlers defeated Clare by a goal, having been eight points clear nearing the end.

They were one of five teams to beat the Banner in the Allianz National League, Tipperary being the last, in the concluding round.

Look at where Tipperary are now, bruised after that embarrassing defeat in their opening championship game and one of the teams going into the draw tomorrow night for the first round of the qualifier competition.

Clare, meanwhile, are strongly placed to win through to their first Guinness Munster hurling in four years, given a huge boost by that 2-17 to 0-14 victory in Pairc Uí Chaoimh.

However, they may be handicapped in tomorrow's semi-final in Thurles by the absence of team captain Sean McMahon (through suspension) and wing-back David Hoey (through injury).

Additionally, while they have demonstrated that they are anything but a spent force as one would expect from a side which lost narrowly in the All-Ireland final Cork have been forewarned what to expect.

Cork had a reasonably successful League campaign, the only real blip being a milk-and-watery display against an experimental Offaly side in Birr.

But for that slip-up, they would probably have made it to the final, because ultimately Kilkenny got in ahead of them by salvaging a draw in their last game against Wexford.

In the event, Cork were probably better off staying out of the limelight because it's debatable if the team would have benefited from the extra game.

Nine of the Cork players lined out in the '99 Munster final win over Clare.

The side is certainly not lacking experience, but that has meant little enough over the last two seasons.

Yet, it wasn't what caused their downfall against Galway twelve months ago, in the second round of the qualifier competition.

Internal dissent was clearly a complicating factor which accounted for the most embarrassing displays by a Cork side since 1989.

Based on League form, it's obvious that Cork are vulnerable at midfield (where Clare are arguably strongest) and half-forward and this will be the first serious test for Ronan Curran, the favoured choice at centre-back

since the start of the League. By comparison, they are unsettled. Yet, nobody could doubt that there's potential in the side.

The big question is whether Cork have the mental and physical toughness to match the Banner.

For instance, which of the half-forwards could match Alan Markham's work-rate.

Without the necessary application they will struggle.

My own view is that Cyril Lyons' team will triumph, but it's far from being a certainty.