Gilligan empathises with Clare tyros as date with destiny looms

Former Clare hurler Niall Gilligan empathises with the county’s current crop.

Jonathan Clancy aside, not one of Davy Fitzgerald’s 29-man squad has the experience of playing in an All-Ireland semi-final, the Sixmilebridge clubman maintaining Croke Park in August can prove unforgiving arena.

Gilligan broke onto Ger Loughnane’s panel in 1997, with his maiden outing at GAA HQ arriving in that summer’s semi-final clash with Kilkenny.