Tony Kelly has declared that Clare simply have to win the Munster title after reaching their fourth final in seven seasons.
It’s the only major honour, either individual or collective, that the Ballyea man doesn’t have from his Clare career having picked up All-Ireland and League medals, Hurler of the Year, Young Hurler of the Year and All Star awards by the time he was 22.
But defeat has been his lot in the three Munster finals he has played in (2017, ‘18 and ‘22), with Clare having lost five in all since their last provincial title in 1998. It’s a run that Kelly insists must be halted come June 11.
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He said: “It is our fourth one getting to. We were beaten in our last three.
“There are a lot of lads in that dressing room who weren't even born the last time we won Munster. It is definitely on our checklist every year.
“As I said, we haven't been able to win it the last three goes of it. It is all about learning. We are in the exact same spot as last year. No better off. No worse.
“We have to bring it home this time. Simple as that. We have three weeks the way the schedule has worked out, which is favourable. All our groups games played, there is another round next week while we're off.
“We'll do everything in our power to go to Thurles or Limerick or Cork, wherever it is on, to try win it.”
As Kelly alluded to, Clare have the luxury of kicking back for the next three weeks in preparation for the game while Tipperary, Limerick and Cork slug it out for the right to play them in the final, albeit Tipp are their most likely opponents given that a win over already eliminated Waterford next Sunday will be enough to ensure their passage.
The 29-year-old will monitor how things are developing in Thurles and Limerick next Sunday but will have his eye elsewhere too.
“I personally always follow it. I'm probably a bit more interested in the football to be honest, watching the football than the hurling for some reason.
“I suppose you won't know who is in the Munster final until next week and the final round. We will focus on ourselves and we will know next week to hone in tactically on whoever.”
Having started their Munster campaign with a home defeat to Tipperary, Clare responded impressively with wins over Limerick, Waterford and then Cork on Sunday, with Cusack Park’s status as a fortress never more evident in the dramatic one-point victory.
“The crowd were excellent,” Kelly acknowledged. “We weren't happy with our performance here the first day. We didn't give the crowd anything to latch on to. Only fits and starts really. We knew a fast start would be important. You have to make home games count for atmosphere especially with the crowds going to games now.
“I think that’s one factor coming down the home straight. Mac [David McInerney] got that score the crowd were right in behind us again. Look it, like any crowd you give them something to shout about, especially the run our underage are on, there seems to be a good buzz in the county.”
The intimate Ennis venue has really come into its own since the round robin system was introduced in Munster, with it rarely staging big Championship games before then.
“Even going to other grounds, before you might play a quarter-final Munster in Thurles with 10 or 12 thousand.
“As much as you love going to Thurles, you still want a full crowd there. It is better going down to play Tipp or going to Páirc Uí Chaoimh playing Cork, you know it will be hostile and the crowds will be massive.
“That is what you want to be playing. You don't want to go to half-empty stadiums around the country. That adds to the competitive edge in Munster. Everyone has a chance to get out.”
Kelly scored 2-4 in the Cork game, 1-4 from play, which would normally be enough to earn the man of the match accolade but he had to defer to Diarmuid Ryan this time, with the wing-back hitting 0-4, including the winning point.
Kelly added: “He was phenomenal in the second half for us. Last week he popped up with two or three against Waterford as well. He started out as a forward for us when he first came in. He has a range of scoring that is phenomenal.
“Even in the club championship here with his own club Cratloe, he would be doing that on a regular basis from centre-half back. He is a phenomenal hurler and delighted for him.
“Delighted for us that he was hitting those scores because we badly needed them.”
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