Fasten your seat belts for a rollercoaster Semple ride

There’s a lot of comparisons being drawn between this Clare team and the Banner team of the nineties. That’s unfair, on both sides.

The team of the 90s came into a much different scenario: No Munster title in over 50 years; no All-Ireland for over 80; a knockout championship; a lot of baggage to be overcome – the curse of Biddy Earley and all that. I have no time for that nonsense myself but it mattered, affected the Clare psyche. Look at all the great Clare teams that had failed before then, so the so-called curse did have a negative effect, and at every level.

The team of the era didn’t just break the mould, they shattered it and the minors went on to make the All-Ireland breakthrough (’97), as did the various club teams.

Comparisons aren’t fair on this team either. These guys have won Munster and All-Ireland at underage, and done it regularly, which the team of the 90’s did not. They are also operating on a very different stage, the standard gone up across the board – hurling isn’t so much a sport anymore at inter-county level as a lifestyle.

These current Clare players aren’t just outstanding hurlers, they are also outstanding people, with a great sense of discipline, honour, pride in who they are and who they’re representing. Much of that comes from themselves, from their parents and teachers in the upbringing they got; much of it springs from the way they’ve been managed also in the various Clare set-ups, in the current senior set-up especially, which is doing a brilliant job.

All those qualities though are going to be tested tomorrow because everything I’ve said about this current Clare team I could also say about Cork, the players and the management.

Look at Cork the first day against Waterford. I know they were nearly caught, didn’t have their heads right, but then look at how they recovered, look at how they finished when they came back to equalise.

I think though in the replay, we saw the real Cork. Clare beat Cork in the All-Ireland final last year but I believe Cork are stronger now. The guys they brought in mightn’t impress people as being the best pure hurlers they’ve ever seen but by God they’re athletes, they’re strong, they’re dogged. I’m thinking of Damien Cahalane, Mark Ellis, Aidan Walsh, Bill Cooper, then there’s the lightning bolt, Alan Cadogan.

What’s dangerous too from a Clare point of view is that those guys are improving with every outing and they’ve had two championship games already. That could prove crucial.

Clare too seem to be on upward curve. Conor McGrath, Podge Collins and of course Tony Kelly, these are three lethal attackers and if Shane O’Donnell makes it, that’s another.

One lapse in concentration and those guys will punish you. Add in the free-taking and general play of Colin Ryan sweeping back, the power of John Conlon, and this is a really powerful, attacking Clare team.

I expect a fiery game, tighter than most people are expecting, for the simple reason that Cork can’t afford to have it open. James McGrath is going to have his hands full from the first whistle.

Looking to a winner, a couple of factors must be considered: Cork’s two games already are crucial and they have the added incentive that a Munster final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh awaits if they win. They might just sneak it, though I wouldn’t rule out yet another draw!

To Leinster and Wexford Park where a huge game awaits Dublin against the hosts. The champions know well the dangers of this venue, and were dead lucky to escape from here with a draw last year. This is now a better Wexford team, reinforced by that big win over Kilkenny in the Leinster U21 championship, and are really well coached and managed by Liam Dunne. Dublin show a number of changes from the team that won the Leinster title last year and I don’t know how that’s going to affect them. Gary Maguire and Danny Sutcliffe are two major losses, while there are doubts about Liam Rushe.

I’m going with Dublin but don’t be surprised if Wexford win. They’ve made massive strides in the last two years.