Magic moments as Clare prove extra special

AH, friends, after a match such as this – nay, after living, breathing life theatre such as this, pity us poor scribes!

Coming to the end of a hurling season that has never really taken off, those of us among the 5,741 live audience in Semple Stadium for this All-Ireland U-21 hurling semi-final, those who followed the drama on TG4, witnessed 80 minutes of non-stop action, yes, but we also witnessed so much more.

There was another chapter added to the Cinderella hurling story of Clare who won their first Munster crown in this grade a few weeks ago; there was the quality of hurling from first ball to last by two superbly prepared teams; there was the individual genius on display at either end of the field, Galway’s Joe Canning adding to an ever-growing reputation with a 4-7 haul while Clare’s Darach Honan added light to an already bright afternoon.