CLARE v KERRY

Tomorrow (1.45pm): Ennis, F Kelly (Longford)

IT’S THE first time since the 1930s that Clare have reached back to back Munster finals.

This should be a cause for great jubilation, but this game is going on in a vacuum.

Such is the state of the Munster Championship.

If Clare win it would rank up there as an upset even greater than their shock 1992 Munster final win.

The biggest teams are so process driven that they don’t tend to make mistakes any more.

At least the game is in Ennis, which means it has more chance of being competitive for longer.

It’s depressing to even be talking in these terms, but that’s the reality.

Clare have to keep the goals out. They conceded five in last year’s final.

But they also have to keep the scoreboard ticking over, or it will be death by a thousand cuts.

Coming from Division 3 action to meeting one of the handful of proper All-Ireland contenders, living with the change in intensity will be a massive challenge.

You could see Clare players getting isolated, being turned over and Kerry hitting them on the counter

HOME

16/1

DRAW

33/1

1/50

RTE

for goals and a plethora of points.

Clare are without their three biggest scoring threats — Eoin Cleary, Keelan Sexton and Jamie Malone — but they’ve got away with it in Division 3, almost winning promotion straight back up to Division 2.

Scores could be hard to come by here though.

Storm

Kerry, without the injured Jason Foley, struggled at times against Cork and were hit for a raft of early goal chances.

But they rode out the storm and had the game under control midway through the second half.

That one should bring them on. Shutting down the Clifford brothers and Sean O’Shea is a massive test for any side.

If Clare are to make a contest of it, they have to bring massive out of their skins physicality and intensity from the off, but they can’t be gung ho either.

Achieving that balance of being well set up defensively and ploughing into an opponent without picking up cards, is not an easy place to get to, but they have no choice.

AWAY VERDICT:

Kerry