Kieran Shannon: Clare are now a reflection of their manager 

The workrate and doggedness that characterised much of his own play wasn’t just evident in the display of the Clare defence. It was also exhibited by his forwards

22 May 2022; Clare's Peter Duggan supported by Robin Mounsey, is tackled by Ian Kenny and Conor Gleeson, 3, during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 5 match between Clare and Waterford at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

After entering Cusack Park at the same time as the Waterford team to take up our spot on the townside west terrace, we couldn’t help but both notice that playing over the PA was the most modern playlist we’ve ever known for the venue – the Croke Park template is now obviously being rolled out around the country – and assess how appropriate it was given the identity of the visitors.

Shortly upon the conclusion of the junior camogie curtain-raiser, Glory Days got a blast. At the time we thought it was fitting given the audience could include that huge Springsteen head and Déise wizard, Paul Flynn, but it turned out to be eerily prescient as to the extent of how fleeting Liam Cahill’s team’s world-beating form this year really was; made us and Derek McGrath feel like a fool, boy.