From the archives: The day Clare broke old firm stranglehold

For much of the time, he served as a Clare delegate to the Munster Council before being elected chairman, Noel Walsh was a strong advocate of the inter-provincial competitions and in the vanguard of the movement to open up Croke Park to rugby and soccer.

And, for years he had campaigned vigorously for an open draw in the Munster SFC.

Eventually, this was adopted late in 1990, which marked 25 years of continuous ‘old firm’ finals between Kerry and Cork, following the Rebels’ defeat by Limerick in the semi-final of 1965.