When wily Rebels crushed spirit of Clare

“When the game was over, Loughnane slumped to the ground in frustration, and as he thumped his hurley off the turf, one could imagine his feelings and those of the many other Clare people in the ground. It was a sad setback for a hopeful team and one that may take some time to get over”

— Paddy Downey, The Irish Times, July 31 1978

The Taoiseach of the day was in attendance on a sultry Thurles afternoon 35 years ago, cheering for his county. So too was the President, cheering for his. An hour before the throw-in the gates were locked, leaving up to 4,000 people fuming outside. Already inside along with Jack Lynch and Paddy Hillery were 54,180 paying spectators, “You could hardly move your finger in Semple Stadium that day,” recalls Seamus Hayes, who covered the match for the Clare Champion.