Championship action bringing Clare on

MUNSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL:

Keane, you see, is an optimist and would rather draw on the many positives of a system which has wielded nothing but controversy since its introduction in September.

When was the last time the Clare footballers enjoyed three Munster championship games in the one campaign, Keane enquires, indeed, when was the last time Clare played three championship games in the one summer? 2012 your answer to the latter, 2000 the former.

Justified optimism it would appear. “The games have been a help, a massive help,” he said. “The two games against Waterford have allowed us to learn our best team ahead of Kerry’s visit, we have ironed out the mistakes so evident in the drawn fixture against Waterford. We would hope our lads are now well up to championship pace. Kerry are without a game for 11 weeks. “Ours is definitely the more favourable position so long as you don’t pick up any injuries. Thankfully all the lads are okay. To go three weeks in a row can be testing. It might be okay for some of the bigger teams who have in-depth panels. As I said, we didn’t come through with any concerns and we did get the opportunity to try some new faces which is always a plus.

“On top of that, the flow of games will be good for the development of the players, regardless of whether we reap the rewards of that this year or next. We are happy with the games as they come. Sunday is going to be a big test and for so-called weaker counties this is the opportunity you strive for to test yourself and pit yourself against a Division 1 team. When the final whistle sounds on Sunday we will have a fair idea of where we stand by comparison with the top tier.”

Clare’s win last time out against the Déise was their first since 2010, a huge weight off the shoulders of the current crop, insists the selector.

The Kilkee native takes solace that Colm Cooper will be an absent figure at Cusack Park, but isn’t as naive not to acknowledge the Kingdom’s strength-in-depth.

“We were playing below in Division 4 in the league, our two championship games were against a Division 4 team and now we have Kerry. You are taking about a fair few steps up in the ladder. It was very important we got a win over Waterford in terms of our progression, but Kerry are a different animal.

“Kerry will say they are missing players and that is a factor. The fact Gooch won’t be there would bolster any opposition. The lads Eamonn Fitzmaurice is giving a chance to will be keen to make an impression. A lot of them have junior All-Ireland medals and Sigerson Cups. They have substance too, they can call on Donnacha Walsh and Aidan O’Mahony.”

A park the bus job, then?

“What’s the point of that?” continues Keane. Wwe are going to try as best we can to deal with the Kerry attacking threat, but we have to try to create as many opportunities as we can at the other end.”