Baker: nothing beats the thrill of playing

INSIDE or outside the wire – which is better? On Sunday afternoon in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, Clare meet Tipperary in the Munster SHC semi-final.

For those most closely involved it’s a tough few weeks leading up to the match, a stomach-churning couple of hours just before and during the game.

For 10 years Ollie Baker experienced the feeling inside the chalk, a midfield colossus for Clare from 1995 to 2004, winner of three Munster titles and two All-Irelands. Afterwards, his service complete, Ollie could relax and take his place in the stands where he was free to fall in with the fans, cheer or criticise as he pleased.