*Wolfe Tones manager, Barry Keane. Photograph: Ruth Griffin. MOTIVATION has been easy to source for Wolfe Tones as they bid to bounce back to the senior hurling championship at the first attempt.
*Wolfe Tones captain, John Guilfoyle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. JOHN GUILFOYLE made his senior debut for Wolfe Tones’ hurlers at the age of sixteen, sixteen years on he is sixty minutes away from captaining the club to a successful return back to the top tier.
*Dean Devanney excelled for Wolfe Tones. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. WOLFE TONES are on course to return to the Clare senior hurling championship at the first attempt after seeing off Ruan to set up a final clash with Tubber.
*Tony Kelly and Brian Lohan lift the Liam MacCarthy. Photograph: Joe Buckley CLARE manager Brian Lohan was lifted shoulder high as he made his return to his native Shannon fresh from guiding the county to win the All-Ireland senior hurling championship.
*David McInerney returns to the Clare team. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE and Limerick have named their starting fifteen for Sunday’s Munster SHC final.
*Adam Hogan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE are treating Saturday’s Allianz National Hurling League final as their sixth game rather than a final.
*David Reidy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE’s senior hurlers have set up an Allianz National Hurling League semi-final with Tipperary after producing a late rally to defeat Offaly.
*Aaron Cunningham will lead the attack for Wolfe Tones. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill If anyone can epitomise the contrasting distinction between Clare Cup and Championship it’s Wolfe Tones who have struggled in the league but prospered when it came to the Canon Hamilton race.
*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill SHANNON MAY have strong links to the current Clare senior hurling set-up but the lack of county colours in advance of recent big games has been criticised.
*Players keep their eyes fixed on the sliotar during the All-Ireland SHC semi-final. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE’S bid to reach the All-Ireland senior hurling final for the first time in a decade came up agonisingly short against a battle-hardened Kilkenny.