Can Banner avoid a winter of discontent?

LIES, damn lies and statistics. Benjamin Disraeli surely never thought his utterance as British Prime Minister back at the end of the 19th century would be linked to the travails of Clare hurling, but nonetheless there is a neat correlation.

Theories in recent seasons that Clare hurling was on the wane could be counter-argued by an All-Ireland final showing in 2002, along with semi-final appearances in 2005 and 2006.

But in 2009 the statistics have provided irrefutable proof. A 0-2 win-loss championship record comes on the back of a grim spring which saw six defeats in the league, with only a draw against Dublin preventing a complete washout. As the graphic above illustrates, the Banner’s hurlers have gone from a 78% win record in 2006 to a shocking 6% in the space of three years. The National League brought relegation and that spectre has raised its head again in the championship.

This afternoon Clare are pencilled in to face Wexford in a relegation semi-final play-off, a match that has generated plenty of controversy with calls for a boycott as both counties aim to stave off the horror of a top-flight drop. Regardless of the rights and wrongs of relegation being introduced, the greatest cause for alarm for Clare is that they are stuck in such a mess in the first place.

After all, it’s only 12 years since they were kings of hurling at both senior and minor level with the future outlook brimming with promise.

With matters at such a low ebb the importance of next Wednesday’s Munster U21 final is ratcheted up. Clare hurling desperately needs a boost and the U21s travelling to Dungarvan have the best chance of making that happen. Lose and it’s bound to be a long winter.