CLARE HAVE SURPRISED a few people with their run to the National Hurling League semi-finals — including themselves, admits defender David McInerney.
The Banner showed no signs of an All-Ireland hangover this spring and topped Division 1A with just one defeat from five.
They face Tipperary in the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday and a win would take them a step closer to their first league title in 36 years.
“We took a long break and we were not expecting to do as well as we did in the league,” McInerney said yesterday.
“Our aim at the start of the season was to go out and win every game we could. We had a few up and down performances in the league but we are very happy to be where we are at the moment.”
The fitness of this young Clare team — with an average age in their early 20s — has helped them to hit the ground running despite the shorter pre-season.
He added: “I don’t think we lost much [fitness] over the winter and then I think we regained it a bit quicker than Davy might have thought.
“Pride has been a big help as well. Clare are going to have a lot of it and we are going to try and do the best we can.
Clare have not won the league since the 70s. That is an awful long time to wait and this year we want to win everything we can. It means a lot to the people of Clare and a lot to the team and we will be pushing full force for it.
Conor McGrath hit a hat-trick when Clare beat Tipp by seven points last month.
The Premier beat Dublin in their final game to dodge relegation and then showed their teeth when they knocked out Cork in the quarter-finals.
If the evidence of a close-fought league campaign is to be believed, the Championship is set to be wide open again this summer.
“It is important to show that you can beat every team,” McInerney said.
I would not necessarily say that there are powerhouses. The likes of Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Galway are all going to be pushing really hard this year. It is going to be a great championship and it has been a good league so far.
“It is a testament to Tipperary that when the pressure came on and they were facing relegation, they really turned it around.
“They have gained a bit of momentum now and you know how hard that is to stop. This is going to be tough match on Sunday for us.”
