Munster rivals Clare and Limerick relighting fire of the 90s

A relatively rare Munster final pairing today. It's just the seventh time that Clare and Limerick will face off in the provincial hurling showpiece and the first in 27 years.

But there was a time when the counties, divided mostly by the river Shannon, were both regular attendees at the big bash, one or the other reaching every final from 1992-1999.

Like many neighbours, they have a love-hate relationship. Every so often, a Limerick City politician blithely suggests annexing some of the Clare-based suburbs on the north bank of the river. Many Clare people work in the city but are already horrified enough at having to remind people what county the airport is in.

Clare were a coming team in 1994. The previous year they had beaten Limerick and Cork before being humbled by Tipperary - when Nicky English had the temerity to smile at a team-mate after scoring – but they had now beaten the Premier en route to the final at Semple Stadium.

Limerick hammered them, even two late Clare goals failing to make a 0-25 to 2-10 scoreline any prettier. The winners went all the way to the All-Ireland final but had their pocket picked by Offaly.

It was Len Gaynor’s last match in charge. Selector Ger Loughnane, soon to be manager, knew something had to change: "They just played at a different pace to us. That was the message for Clare hurling. We weren't physically ready."

They soon would be. Clare spent that autumn and winter running themselves into the ground in Crusheen and up it at Shannon. They topped the National League Division 1 table but lost the final to Kilkenny.

Ollie Baker’s injury-time goal edged them past Cork in the Munster semi-final and then Limerick awaited in what was Clare’s third decider in a row. Another defeat would stretch