Banner aim to bring an end to Treaty torment

Brian Lohan is faced with the difficult choice between going all out for league glory or keeping powder dry for Limerick

Brian Lohan is not a guy who courts public sympathy or seeks solace in excuses. Defiance characterised his style of play when he filled the pivotal full-back position on the Clare team during their golden era in the 1990s. He cuts a similar uncompromising figure when he patrols the sideline in his current role as Clare manager.

Yet he would be forgiven for feeling slightly hard done by. His five seasons as Banner boss have been utterly overshadowed by the dominance of their next door neighbours Limerick.

By the time Lohan was appointed Clare manager on October 31, 2019, John Kiely had already guided the Treaty County to their first All-Ireland success since 1973, as well as league and Munster championship triumphs. But losing to Kilkenny in the 2019 All-Ireland semi-final suggested his team had feet of clay.

As it turned out, the defeat was a mere blip. Limerick haven’t lost a knock-out championship match since in either the All-Ireland or Munster series. As well as the four Liam MacCarthy Cups and four Munster Championship wins, they have secured two Leagues and a Munster Senior League title since Lohan became Clare manager.

When his spell as county under 21 manager is included, Kiely has won 18 trophies with Limerick since 2011. Lohan has yet to win any silverware with Clare.

And when it has mattered most, Clare have failed against Limerick — even if on occasions bad luck and poor refereeing conspired against them.

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Limerick’s dominance will not last forever. The danger for Clare is that by the time Limerick’s decline begins, they will have shot their bolt as well and a new team will emerge as the kingpins. It is against this background that Clare journey to Portlaoise for today’s Allianz Division 1 semi-final against Tipperary.

By the time he stands up to give his team talk in the dressing room, Lohan will have had time to digest Limerick’s defeat to Kilkenny in the other semi-final. Limerick will now be in championship mode. Herein lies his dilemma. In four weeks’ time and 14 days after the Division 1 league final, Clare host All-Ireland champions Limerick in their first game of the Mun