*Clare captain, Tony Kelly with manager Brian Lohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill “IN Clare hurling like a religion and Brian Lohan is like our God,” said Tony Kelly as he captained the county to All-Ireland glory.
*Clare’s Tony Kelly with the Liam MacCarthy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill A CHARACTER filled display saw Clare’s senior hurlers crowned All-Ireland champions for the fifth time with an extra time win over Cork.
*John Joe Costelloe at his home in Kildysart. Photograph: John Mangan. KILDYSART’s John Joe Costelloe has been following Clare hurling teams since 1974 and is regarded as one of the most genuine GAA supporters in the county.
*Shane O’Donnell. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill THE WHEEL turns full circle for Shane O’Donnell this Sunday when eleven years after his indelible All-Ireland Final debut as a carefree teenager, he faces the same opponents at the same stage in an almost eerie decider rematch against the Rebels once more.
*Clare centre back John Conlon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill STARTING TEAMS have been named by Clare and Cork for Sunday’s eagerly awaited All-Ireland SHC final.
*Clare’s Aidan McCarthy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill FOUR-TIME ALL-Ireland winner, Paul Murphy is tipping Clare to come out on top in Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC final.
*Tony Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill FOR ALMOST twelve months up to late May of this year, the question on all hurling followers lips wasn’t could Clare win the Munster or All-Ireland title but rather will Tony Kelly make a full recovery from the injury which saw him miss Clare’s league campaign.
*Clare manager, Brian Lohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill For the first time in his five year reign in charge of the Clare senior hurlers, Brian Lohan has a full hand to choose from, a fittingly opportune factor ahead of his biggest game as he leads out the Banner in Croke Park in Sunday’s All-Ireland decider against …
*Tony Kelly gets away from Walter Walsh. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE CAPTAIN Tony Kelly never felt that Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final game was gone from them.
*Adam Hogan emerges out of defence in possession for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE’s senior hurlers produced a remarkable second half comeback to claim their place in the All-Ireland final for the first time in eleven years.
