Jamesie O'Connor is confident that Clare can put their league troubles behind them and show a return to form in the upcoming Munster SHC.

Speaking to The Irish Independent at the launch of Sky Sports' Championship coverage in London yesterday, the former Hurler of the Year says the Banner, despite relegation to Division 1B, can take positives from their League campaign.

"Clare will probably take more positives out of the League the way it finished and the form of key players in terms of (Shane) O'Donnell and (Tony) Kelly, than Limerick or Galway could," he opined.

"I think it's in the rear view mirror from a Clare perspective."

Cork, on the other hand, have a lot of work to do if they are to get their hands on the Liam McCarthy Cup according to O'Connor.

"Jimmy Barry (Murphy) has his convictions and they haven't served Cork that badly over the years.

"You go back to last season, they put Clare to the sword in the first game, were very impressive at times in the Munster final, and they have a lot of good players.

"But I'm still not sure. You feel with Tipperary and Kilkenny, you feel even with Clare at the moment that they can create things.

"Cork have excellent individual players but you just wonder are they going to cut you apart the way Tipp can, the way Kilkenny can. They didn't really look like scoring a goal last weekend."

As regards league champions Waterford, the two-time All-Ireland winner believes their manager Derek McGrath learnt a valuable lesson in defeat to Clare last summer and that loss sowed the seeds for their defensive gameplan.

"To me that is where this all began because Clare riddled Waterford. They were so naive. There was 80 metres in front of the Waterford full-back line. Clare had five in the net at half-time.

"The game was dead and buried and they went from having a couple of good wins under their belt to having the wind knocked out of their sails. They lost the next two games and were relegated.

"I think Derek McGrath went back from that evening in Ennis and said, 'we can't ever allow that to happen again'. This system is very much predicated on that."

Tweet

Most Read Stories