Clare joint-manager Gerry O'Connor admitted that his team had him biting his fingernails after they just about held off Dublin's challenge in the closing stages of yesterday's ESB All-Ireland MHC semi-final.

"We've made life hard for ourselves all year," he said after the Banner's 0-20 to 2-13 victory.

"We got a great start, dominating puck-outs and winning all the breaks, but Dublin are a hugely physical team and they ground us down. They made a lot of changes, brought in Hetherton inside in the full forward line and pushed us to the limit.

"We've been conceding goals all year and each time it has driven us on. That's the strength of this team all year, that in adversity we really respond."

O'Connor's assistant Donal Moloney admitted that the Banner face a massive task in the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny, but is looking forward to the challenge nonetheless.

"We're delighted to be in the final and facing Kilkenny. It's a great honour and privilege to be in the last two in Ireland, we're really going to look forward to it," he said.

"Obviously, their score and performance last weekend (against Galway) was exceptional, but they don't hold any fear for us. It's a replay of last year's under 21 final so we're going to come here and set out our stall to do ourselves justice on the day." Tweet

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