Lohan puts Cork in traditional powers’ hopes

There were a lot of fanciful dates been thrown around in Semple Stadium in the aftermath of Sunday’s second successive victory about the last time Clare beat both Tipperary and Cork in the championship.

1955? ’56?, the truth is much closer as Brian Lohan and Co. managed to not only overcome Cork and Tipperary to win their second Munster title in three years in 1997 but doubled the dose in the All-Ireland decider against the Premier.

Exactly 25 years later, doubling the dose was a significant objective for Lohan the manager and his side as having ambushed Tipperary, it was all about matching that hungry display to exact full revenge on the Rebels who had knocked them out of the All-Ireland series last July.

“The lads were just right today, the first half in particular they really worked hard, put in a great shift, played some brilliant hurling and got some great scores so I’m delighted with how the lads played,” said Lohan.

“They were really gunning for road during the week and we had a long twelve months waiting to get back at Cork after them beating us last year so it was a pleasing start.”

Now in his third year in charge, the legendary full-back has always been player-centric and therefore was gushing in his praise of his side that had secured back-to-back provincial victories for the first time since 2018.

“Right from the first session that I’ve been involved, the players have just been outstanding to a man. We had 26 guys named on the panel today but you’ve got a backroom team and a number of other guys on the extended panel that are working so hard for the county so it’s smashing, really great.

“There’s a real honesty and integrity in the group and they were excellent again today.”

Attentions now turn to nearest neighbours Limerick, who hold the only other perfect record in the province, for another mouth-watering showdown in Ennis on Sunday week.

“It’s another big challenge and we have two really good teams in Limerick and Waterford coming up now.

“It’s pretty intense but we have a two week break so we’ll be ready for that challenge and it’s something that we’ll look forward to again.

And the prospect of a real carnival atmosphere in Cusack Park?

“It’s great for the county, great for this bunch of players and great for the supporters too. Look, there isn’t a huge amount of expectation on us but we’re fairly ambitious about ourselves.”