If this were a telegram, the message would be easy to convey: Clare were terrific, and Cork were abject

Cork’s season on the brink, Clare’s only just begun

CROWD CONTROL: Cork’s Jack O'Connor, Shane Kingston and Patrick Horgan with John Conlon and Conor Cleary of Clare in today's Munster SHC clash in Thurles.

The obvious question to ask in Thurles before yesterday’s game was how Clare would fare just one week after beating Tipperary, given that that championship opener had been their sole focus for months.

The question was all the sharper given Cork had had two weeks since losing to Limerick in their first game - and had had a chance to see Clare’s alignment the previous weekend.