Cooney says Banner spirits lifted on long ride home

IT was after 10pm on Sunday night when the Clare hurling team bus made it back to their Banner base from Belfast.

But despite the marathon journey the mood was upbeat. Seven days earlier Clare’s optimism at the onset of another league campaign had evaporated with a nine-point defeat on home soil against Limerick.

On Sunday, manager Ger O’Loughlin sought a positive response against Antrim and his players delivered.