New gods and old answer Banner faithful's prayers

Faith.

How else to explain a team beaten in three successive Munster finals and two All-Ireland semis finally reaching the promised land?

Many doubted if it was ever going to happen for Clare under Brian Lohan but, in his fifth year as manager, after many crushing blows to belief, the Banner's trust in their messiah was justified with a biblical epic of a final victory over Cork.

"In Clare, hurling is like a religion and Brian Lohan is like our God," said captain Tony Kelly after accepting the Liam MacCarthy Cup, thanks in no small part to his own minor miracles on the pitch.

Reposing afterwards in the depths of the GAA's Jones' Road cathedral, Kelly expanded on the players' admiration for the four-time All-Star full-back who has led them to paradise for just the fifth time.

"Since he has come in, everything has been for the betterment of Clare," Kelly told RTÉ Sport. "We were were probably in the media pre-Covid for not having our s**t together, our centre of excellence was always on it. We were never on it for an unbelievable match or performance, it was always what's going on in Clare, or who is rowing with you. But since he came in, he cleaned up everything behind the scenes.

"Then from a players' point of view, he just has us eating out of the palm of his hand. Because he played and was such a legend, he has that the minute he walks into the dressing room.

"He is teak-tough in how he comes across in the media, but to us, he would defend you to the hilt. He is tough, he is a sound man as well behind it all, if you can believe that. He has a softer side to him. He is just a legend."

The devotion is mutual.

Having been Clare’s rock throughout the 11 years since their last All-Ireland triumph, Kelly had not been as influential