3 Things we learned from Clare’s league campaign

1Clare has the most exciting young squad in Ireland

If there was any doubt of the potential of Clare’s young guns following last year’s All Ireland U21 success and three Munster minor final appearances in a row then they have been firmly dispelled.

Players such as David Mc Inerney, Patrick O Connor, Tony Kelly, Shane O Donnell and Colm Galvin have all stood up during the league campaign.

It was feared that injuries to players such as Cian Dillion, James Mc Inerney, Conor Mc Grath and Darach Honan would stunt Clare’s hopes in 2013 but the younger members of Davy Fitzgerald’s squad took their chance and have established themselves as front runners for the opening championship game of the season against Waterford in June.

2

Division 1 hurling is uncompromising and educational

The old saying that it’s only the league can be adopted by the established counties like Kilkenny and Tipperary and even before last Sunday, Cork.

It’s somewhat different for asides like Clare and Limerick who desperately needed a good league campaign.

However the specter of the drop focused every county’s mind this year and for that we can be grateful for the hours of entertainment and drama 

For a side like Clare who have languished in  Div 1B/2 gulag for the past few seasons they received lessons in what it takes to succeed at the top.

Margins at the top in hurling, like so many other sports, are incredibly fine and two one point losses turned to draws or even wins would have Clare in league semi final action this weekend.

Creating 55 chances but missing almost half is unacceptable and on other days will be severely punished.

But what players will have learnt most is the physical and mental sharpness needed in Div 1-they got a taste this year-next year Davy will want them  dining out on the full course.

3

The Munster championship is wide open

For the first time in almost a decade there are at least four possible winners of the Munster championship before we head into the white heat of battle this summer.

Tipperary appear on paper to be the best side equipped to claim another provincial crown while in the chasing pack Clare, along with Waterford and Limerick can cause huge problems.

There is a general feeling among Clare supporters that the county owes Waterford for their two previous Munster exits as well as this year’s league loss.

Cork await in the last four and revenge for the Rebels, against Clare for relegation  or Waterford, for the draw that put so much pressure on Cork going into the final round of league games  is bound to cause plenty of excitement come June.

The other semi final between Tipperary and Limerick is at this stage hard to call with the Shannonsiders desperate for a backlash after another league ending in frustration.