Expert view: Frank Lohan (Former Clare All-Ireland winner)

“This is a really difficult one to call because I expect Sunday to be a hugely tactical affair. To highlight one area and to say that is where the winning and losing of the game lies is nonsense.

Even though Pa Horgan is the one man Clare will have to watch, I don’t expect him to take a stance on the edge of the square. He will be on the move constantly. The Clare defence will have to tuned in from the word go to track the movement of Cork’s front six.

I expect a lot will rest of on the free-taking of both Conor Ryan and Horgan. If either one of them was to have an off day, it could determine the outcome. We saw in the Clare/Limerick semi-final how crucial it is to have your free-taker on form. Nerves will always be present on All-Ireland hurling final day, it is simply a case of which man handles them better.

I don’t believe the Munster semi-final clash will have any bearing on Sunday. What will have a bearing though is the fact Clare created so many chances that day. They didn’t capitalise and paid the price but should they open up the Cork rearguard to the same degree on Sunday, they a have a massive chance. Obviously Clare cannot afford to be as wasteful this time.

Brian Murphy picked up Tony Kelly that day and I think if Cork operate the same defensive strategy they did that afternoon in Limerick, it could be a positive for Clare. The Clare lads had the better of the Cork defenders and I suppose heads dropped when those goal chances weren’t converted. Pa Cronin and Lorcán McLoughlin weren’t playing that day which really shows the strength of the Cork bench, but I think Davy proved he has strength in depth in his panel also and there are a number of Clare lads who could be called to the fray that are capable of doing a job.

My heart rules my head and I’m going to go for a Clare win, but the margin will be very tight.”