Brian Lohan: Hurling is competitive 'outside of Limerick'

Clare manager Brian Lohan believes that top-level hurling is generally becoming more competitive but that there is a clear gap to Limerick that the chasing pack must close.

"They're so good in all areas of the game. Whether it’s their conditioning or their skill level, they seem to have everything," he told RTÉ Sport.

"They’re certainly not going backwards, in their professionalism and the quality of players that they have. Great resources behind them as well.

"Most hurling people will accept that they are the standard at the moment and it’s up to every one of the other counties to try and get up the level that they’re at.

"There are a couple of counties that have made good progress in the last number of years. It’s competitive outside of Limerick."

Clare haven’t reached an All-Ireland semi-final since losing an epic two-game series to Galway in 2018 and Lohan has set that as the minimum ambition in what is his third year in charge.

"We want to improve," he said. "Every team in the championship wants to get up to Croke Park, so that means you’ve got to be in the top four in the country.

"That would be a general goal that we would have."

The Banner begin their Allianz Hurling League campaign away to Cork today, and will be without a host of players, including talisman Tony Kelly, the returning Peter Duggan, Aidan McCarthy and John Conlan.

Colm Galvin, who was at midfield when the Banner last lifted Liam MacCarthy in 2013, announced his inter-county retirement today due to a persistent groin injury.

"It is condensed," said Lohan. "You’ve got five games in seven weeks and then four games in the Munster championship in five weeks. You need a strong, robust panel to get through it.

"We’re looking forward to it but the big disadvantage