Kingston’s men will continue to blossom into real contenders

A TEAM packed with All-Stars and All-Ireland winners, who bridged the generation gap with a League title, guided by a management team who have a long list of successes up the grades on Munster final day. So why are Clare seen as underdogs? Three long, painful summers failing to live up to their billing after that AllIreland breakthrough, that’s why. The warm glow of 2013 has long since dulled. That’s why they face a core group of players who were defeated in thrilling fashion in that 2013 replay but who actually have a Munster medal to show for it. Time has wrought its own changes. Dead-eyed freetaker Colin Ryan has stepped away while illness rules Conor Ryan out for the season. And yet it’s so easy to imagine Clare rediscovering their mojo. Colm Galvin slinging over points; Tony Kelly weaving his magic. Playing with the freedom that supporters have craved, but has only been there in flashes.

What’s galling for the Banner is that Cork are playing with just those very qualities, a mirror-image of Clare in 2013 with a bunch of young guns taking the hurling world by storm.

Conor Lehane’s status as a key puck-out receiver has been well-flagged; so too the on-field chemistry with Mark Coleman. Disrupting that is easier said than done.

Cork manager Kieran Kingston has rightly played down his team’s progress: Tipperary were off-colour; Waterford left their best form on the training field.

A ring-rusty Clare still hit 317 against Limerick; Cork posted a record total on Tipperary. If there’s a difference, it’s that the latter have more forwards coming into their best form.

A gung-ho approach from both could add hugely to a captivating hurling summer.

Cork’s blossoming into AllIreland contenders to continue.