Clare's Taylor and Kelly kept each other going during bleak winter months

"For me personally to get back and play some part in it is unbelievable, absolutely unreal."

COMEBACK KID: Ryan Taylor of Clare celebrates after the All-Ireland SHC final victory over Cork. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Ryan Taylor wanted to start. He felt he had impacted proceedings when introduced for the last 24 minutes against Kilkenny and wanted to impact the final from the off.

Irish Examiner columnist Seánie McGrath, writing on these pages last week, sung from the same sheet as the Clooney-Quin midfielder. He too felt Taylor had a strong hand in turning the semi-final tide and was adamant that he should be utilised from the off.