League final victory was crucial for Clare - Brian Lohan

How many blows must a team face down? Before you can call them the champs?

The answer may have been blowing in the wind in Semple Stadium on Saturday night, as Clare salved two eight-year-old wounds at once: the wait for a trophy and the failure to beat Kilkenny in a knockout game.

The Banner supporters were more numerous and more vocal in Thurles, adding weight to the theory that an Allianz Hurling League title would be a bigger deal for Clare than a Kilkenny side who only occasionally permit the Bob O'Keeffe to leave the county, like an art museum graciously loaning out its old masters.

"It’s massive for us," admitted manager Brian Lohan, who has made Clare contenders but also seen them lose successive All-Ireland semi-finals to the Cats and Munster finals to Limerick. "It was crucial for us to get the win.

"You learn from disappointments. You’d have to say about our group that they’re a resilient bunch. They do stay working hard and sometimes you get the rewards for your work and sometimes you don’t. But tonight, if a league [only the county's fifth] is a reward, they got the reward.

"We’ve had to deal with a lot of disappointment from Kilkenny so we were very focused.

"You can’t beat winning. It’s an old saying but it’s a true saying. It’s great for the group, it’s great for hurling within the county."

Clare had been trailing approaching half-time but raised three green flags in 18 minutes, through Aidan McCarthy (2) and David Fitzgerald, to build a lead that Kilkenny could never quite claw back.

"I suppose the display wasn't all that brilliant, but good to get the result," said Lohan.

"Any time you're able to get green flags against Kilkenny is pretty good. There was good running, good movement, we finished the goals