Maurice Brosnan on hurling: Retiring O'Donnell sums it up, Cork shooting and the art of the sub

Here are eight observations from the hurling championship as Shane O'Donnell wraps up his inter-county career, Cork fall once more and Limerick's junkyard dog shines.

GREAT SERVANT: Clare's Shane O'Donnell with family after the game. Pic: Tom O’Hanlon/Inpho

Shane O’Donnell soaked it all in. The emotional post-match consolation from opposition and team-mates, the embrace from friends and family, a reasoned debrief with pitch-side broadcasters. Colour and calculation, he always brought both.

Clare had to do the same. Their only way to down Limerick was to come with mind and muscle. They needed to engineer a game plan that would allow them to compete.