De La Salle’s proven track record to swing it

The De La Salle mentors who went to the Clare county final faced the road home with plenty of food for thought.

Newmarket goaled in the first minute and never relented, eventually running out winners by a 10-point margin to end a 31-year drought. Older readers will remember when Newmarket held all of Clare in submission for the 60s and 70s, dominating the county championship, but it’s this team’s – this generation’s – first venture outside the Banner on Munster Club duty. Unfamiliar territory. By contrast, De La Salle have won the provincial title twice in the last five years, in 2008 and 2010. They’re used to the challenges posed by the mud, rain and tight pitches of October and November. Accordingly the Waterford team, with All Stars Kevin Moran and John Mullane (inset) anchoring defence and attack, respectively, have the upper hand in terms of experience. Balancing that out is the venue: Sixmilebridge is a six-mile drive from Newmarket, as close to a home venue as makes no difference. Experience versus home advantage?

We’ll take the team with a track record. De La Salle by a whisker.