Wise words from two old rivals

In 1977 and 1978, Clare were one of the best hurling teams in the country, winning two NHL titles in a row. During that spell they enjoyed some titanic tussles with Kilkenny. Ahead of tomorrow’s All-Ireland semi-final Johnstown’s Billy Fitzpatrick and Johnny McMahon from Newmarket recalled old times with Diarmuid O’Flynn.

Billy Fitzpatrick: The standard wasn’t what it is now, in training.

Johnny McMahon: We used to do a bit though, Billy. We’d won nothing for so many years — 1946 I think was the last time we’d won the league — so we were trying to make a breakthrough. We’d start collective training at the beginning of October, when the league started, and we’d be training away during October, November, into December, maybe take a break for a fortnight for Christmas, then back again, and it was heavy enough. I felt myself that come June every year, our team was a small bit stale.