Loughnane backs Clare to overtake Kilkenny

Legendary All-Ireland winning manager Ger Loughnane has backed Clare to overtake Kilkenny as hurling’s most dominant team claiming that the sport’s "big ogre is beginning to lose his sense of danger."

Loughnane, who led the Banner to championship glory in 1995 and 1997, believes recent retirements has chipped away at the air of invincibility that surrounded Brian Cody’s charges since the turn of the century.

And he believes that Clare’s all-conquering U21 sides of the past three seasons can transfer that success onto the senior stage provided they don’t grow complacent.