Talking Points: Cork and Clare need to exceed expectation – not meet it

Rebels and Banner find themselves in uncharted territory, but they need to grasp the opportunity.

Clare's Jamie Malone kicks the winning point for Clare. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

It was Gary Brennan, their one-time talisman, who corroborated the point made on TV by Oisín McConville that Clare weren’t happy with consolidating their status in Division 2 of the Allianz League. Their manager, Colm Collins, was in fact, aiming to win the division and secure promotion to the top flight.

It all comes down to where a team and its management sees its ceiling. Brian Hurley bristled Sunday at the notion that Cork were now in bonus territory having made the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals. The same, unquestionably, will be said of Collins and Clare.