McNamara knows bigger challenges await Clare

MIKE McNamara was ready. “Well lads, someone ask a question.”

The Clare boss delivered the line deadpan, sparking a fusillade of questions, but McNamara offered his general management manifesto.

“As we’ve said since starting, our aim and our ambition was to put Clare back as one of the strong hurling counties. It’s no good codding ourselves and going through meaningless qualifiers to end up back in Croke Park without a challenge.