CLARE MAKE THEIR 2014 championship bow this weekend and there’s a familiar foe in the opposition corner.
Cork are set to test them in a collision that evokes memories of the epic two-game saga between the counties last September in Croke Park.
We’ve picked out some of the epic moments from the drawn All-Ireland final and the replay.
1. Podge Collins audacity to land this point
2. Conor Lehane’s brilliant run from deep before firing to the net
3. Patrick Horgan seemingly hitting a great match winner for Cork
4. Before Domhnall O’Donovan’s ridiculous equaliser forced a draw
5. And Marty Morrissey screamed ‘Holy Moses’ in his RTÉ Radio commentary
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September 28th: Replay…
6. Shane O’Donnell is a surprise inclusion in the Clare team and he fires home a first-half hat-trick
7. Anthony Nash wallops a free to the net past 12 Clare players
8. Darach Honan hits the eighth goal of the evening to clinch Clare’s victory
9. Agony and ecstasy after the game for the respective squads
10. Davy was pretty emotional after the final whistle
11. As was Shane O’Donnell’s brother watching on in Israel
Pic: Fergal Brennan
12. And the games even captured the imagination of the media in Britain
The Guardian used its editorial to sing the praises of the two teams.
“Welcome to the ancient Irish game of hurling, arguably the fastest contact sport played on grass. Last weekend, 82,000 people wearing the red and white of Cork or the yellow and blue of Clare watched their heroes play out what many regard as the greatest All-Ireland hurling final.
“Hopefully the Gaelic Athletic Association will do all sports fans everywhere a massive favour and produce DVD copies of this memorable game, where Clare emerged victorious.
“As Premier League soccer is again soiled with prima donna antics – see the scratch-and-send-off controversy of Torres at Spurs at the weekend – the hand-eye co-ordination and the courage and commitment of Cork and Clare were a shining example of sportsmanship.”
