Harty highs followed by Páirc humbling for Clare

Within the space of a few hours, Clare hurling went from an extreme high to a very disappointing low.

It goes without saying that the story of last weekend was Tulla winning the Dr Harty Cup for the very first time.

Considering the size of the school, and also the fact that only 50% are males, what they achieved in the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday was nothing short of phenomenal.

Harty Cup days can create memories of a lifetime, and I can vouch for that. Back in 2010 and 2011, Ard Scoil Rís came from relatively nowhere to land back-to-back Hartys.

Up to then it was predominantly a rugby school, and within a few years, that all changed. It was most definitely a springboard and a starting point for what followed in Limerick hurling for the next decade. Winning something for the first time, or even for the first time in a long time, is hard bate!

The memories and the craic and the bond that is created is just special. And I have no doubt that the players, management, supporters and the school in full of Tulla will remember that day for the rest of their lives.

But what's important is that it's not a once off. Because while once offs are great, it's backing it up with consistency that creates results going forward, for both the school and the county.

Now I don't mean winning it year in, year out, but getting to knockout stages, developing and exposing players to high level hurling on a regular basis - that will set them up nicely for their clubs and their county going forward.

And for Clare hurling, that is what's needed. Because a few hours later, if you were a Clare supporter, I would imagine you would have been fairly dejected leaving Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Leeside having witnessed the Baner fall to a 2-30 to 2-21 defeat.

I saw one