Eoin Cleary is calling on Clare to break down new barriers by seeing off Cork in Sunday’s Munster quarter-final.
Having been relegated to Division Two after seven seasons, last year’s All-Ireland quarter-finalists must reach the provincial final to avoid playing in the Tailteann Cup this year.
Oddly, they haven’t played Cork in the Championship since 2015 but have come up against them regularly in Division Two in the intervening years, with Clare winning three of their six meetings, though Cork have won two of the last three, with the other ending in a draw.
Should Clare get back on top this Sunday, it would be their first Championship win over Cork since 1997, when Martin Daly scored a memorable winning goal at the death.
"I was born in '94,” Banner captain Cleary points out. “I don't remember the game as such, but I've seen the video back.
“A selector who used to be in with us, Ger Keane, did a famous dance after Martin Daly's goal so we've all seen the video of that. Cork have got the better of us since then.
“I was at the 2012 Munster final and I played in 2015, the last time we played Cork in Championship. They have had the upper hand over the last few years but hopefully we'll be able to change that on Sunday.
“Under Colm [Collins], we've broken a few barriers down by being the first Clare team to get to an All-Ireland quarter-final and then doing it six years later again.
“We got to Division Two and beat certain counties that Clare have never beaten before, so this is another challenge ahead. It's a big challenge. Cork are moving quite well this year.
“Kevin Walsh is definitely an addition to them. He has brought a style of play that makes them very difficult to break down. We'll just have to look after our own performance and try to get over the line on Sunday."
Clare were left cursing themselves after their relegation having suffered one-point losses to both Dublin and Kildare in games in which they were well ahead. A victory in either would have been enough to save them, though Cleary still took plenty from the Croke Park duel against the Dubs.
“I remember we played them in 2015 in Milltown, they were on a training camp at the time, and I think they actually stopped counting the score.
“The game was on in my own club and the scoreboard wasn't working. I think some club officials looked after their clubmates that night by not allowing it to work!
“I suppose it's a change in fortunes really, the fact that you can compete with a team like Dublin in this day and age, but it was definitely still disappointing not to get over the line with how we performed."
