Battling Clare do late drama better than anyone else

Clare 1-23 Waterford 2-19: Domhnall O’Donovan may no longer be part of the panel but it’s fair to state Clare have lost none of their never-say-die virtues.

Sure, it was only a league final. Sure, it’s too early to make too many comparisons with 2013 and Munster remains the gauntlet that has caught Clare out so often. Sure, the defining battle against Waterford is likely to be in four weeks’ time. But this daylight robbery – and we make no reference to the late refereeing decisions in using that phrase – was symptomatic of a team who don’t know what it is to lose.

Clare were struggling for so much of this game they led for just three minutes. They found themselves six points down until Tony Kelly’s goal jumpstarted their revival in the 48th minute. But when the game reached boiling point it was they who stepped out of the pot last, taking the last four scores.