Laverty puts brave Banner to the sword

LAST year’s defeated All-Ireland finalists Down may have been the hottest of favourites coming into Ennis on Saturday against a Clare team hammered by Cork in the Munster championship.

But this morning they are the luckiest team in the country to be still alive and kicking in the championship.

Let’s not patronise — Clare should have won this game. They didn’t have individuals of the undoubted and proven talent of Marty Clarke and Benny Coulter or a lethal finisher like Conor Laverty. However on this summer’s day at least, they were a better team than the Mourne County men.