Banner and Blues hoping to end wait

TOMORROW’S ESB All-Ireland MHC semi-final offers a golden opportunity for Clare and Dublin to end barren spells since their last national decider at the grade.

Clare are bidding to reach their first final since 1997 when they claimed title honours. Dublin have endured a longer wait with no final appearance since 1983 and their last success stretches further back to 1965.

Kilkenny may have been installed as favourites for this competition after their awesome exhibition defeating Galway last weekend but the prize for tomorrow’s victors is still massive. Dublin have been on the receiving end of Kilkenny’s prowess twice this season, losing in the Leinster opener and provincial final to the Cats.

“We’d like to think that we have learnt from the Kilkenny games this year,” says Dublin boss John Murphy.

“We’re a developing team and we’ve gained experience in playing five matches. It took a week for the lads to get over the Leinster final defeat but young lads are resilient.

“The quarter-final pitched us in against Antrim, and we’re happy where we’re at now. We’re still playing in August and that’s down to beating Wexford in the Leinster semi-final which opened up the year for us. Dublin don’t get to too many All-Ireland hurling semi-finals and this is the exposure we need.

“The objective now is to get to a final but Clare will have a similar aim. They’ve beaten Tipperary, Limerick and Waterford and winning a Munster title will give them great confidence.”

Gerry O’Connor, joint manager of Clare side with Donal Moloney, is looking forward to tomorrow’s tie.

“We are delighted to be in this position. Obviously the year didn’t start off well losing to Waterford but we made a few logistical mistakes for that game as we got the timing off for the bus journey. Then we’d two matches in the following seven days against Kerry and Tipperary which was the making of us. The Tipperary match was a great battle and Tony Kelly showed great leadership to get the winning point.

“The most tension we’ve had all year was in the semi-final against Limerick. We set out our stall to reach the Munster final as that would ensure we were still hurling in August.

“That was a big win and then in the Munster final, Waterford certainly were tired and we felt they peaked in the replay against Cork.

“But our lads were unbelievable that day and they just powered on in the second-half. We went to Crossmaglen to see Dublin play Antrim and they’re a big, aggressive team whereas we’re a small side.

“Dublin have the best minor centre-back in Danny Sutcliffe and are a fine side. But our lads have drawn inspiration from the Clare U21s last year and they want to be successful in Croke Park.”

It should be a tightly-balanced clash with Dublin’s challenge founded on Sean McClelland, Danny Sutcliffe, Ciarán Kilkenny, Fergal Heavey and Cormac Costello. But Munster champions Clare with Enda Boyce, Tony Kelly, Paudge Collins, Danny O’Halloran and Niall Arthur get the vote.