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.