Munster SHC final preview: Clare face moment of truth against history-chasing Limerick

Storm clouds seem to gather whenever Clare and Limerick meet.

Showers are forecast at a sell-out Gaelic Grounds as even Oscar comes for a look at the most gripping hurling rivalry of the moment.

Last year, the two counties served up a classic Munster final battle amid a torrent of rain in Thurles.

Three weeks after a bruising round-robin draw, Tony Kelly stepped up to cut a sideline over the bar in the 74th minute and force extra-time.

Limerick went to the well and marched on to four in a row. Clare seemed spent for the season.

The barometer has been straining again this summer. At the end of April, Clare finally inflicted a championship defeat on the Treaty, their first in almost four years.

In those three epic contests, there was one point in total between them across normal time. Two if you include Limerick's one-goal victory at the end of 90-plus minutes.

The competitive edge between the counties is now up there with their classic meetings of 1994-96 – though this time around it is Limerick who have progressed on to All-Ireland glory.

Clare haven’t won what is now known as the Mick Mackey Cup since Anthony Daly lifted it after a replay against Waterford in ’98.

It’s not essential to win Munster to lift Liam, as Clare themselves (2013), Limerick (2018) and Tipperary (2010 and 2019) can attest to in recent times.

But it feels like defeat on Sunday would puncture the momentum the Banner have been building and erode the belief built in that victory over the champions. Can they back it up with silverware at stake?

Clare have probably been the most impressive team of the championship so far. Only for conceding some soft goals against Tipp on day one (5-22 in all) they would have a 100% record.

Brian Lohan didn’t hesitate to replace