Provincial pretenders Clare and Galway need platform for greater glory

Nobody's season will be over after tomorrow’s provincial hurling finals.

But for the Leinster and Munster winners, the prospects of ultimate glory will be rosier - seven of the last 10 All-Ireland titles have been won by provincial champions.

Of course, Limerick have slightly skewed those stats, even if their breakthrough triumph in 2018 came through the back door, and they could become just the fourth team to win a Munster five-in-a-row after the Cork sides of 1901-05, 1975-79 and 1982-86.

A four-in-a-row for Kilkenny in Leinster would be their fourth overall, and first since the seven consecutive crowns clocked up between 2005 and 2011.

Last year’s All-Ireland champs and runners-up will doubtless still consider themselves in the hunt regardless of how this weekend pans out.

But do Clare and Galway need to end provincial droughts of 25 and five years respectively to be deemed genuine contenders?

"I think it would be huge for Clare to win it," says Darach Honan, full-forward on the last Banner team to lift Liam MacCarthy.

"You don’t want that term of 25 years to extend to 35 or further on. You want to win as much as you can and this is a great chance for them to win one.

"It’s probably more important for Clare to win than Limerick. Limerick have won four Munsters in a row now and know that they’re capable of winning All-Irelands whereas this Clare team haven’t gotten over the line yet.

"We didn’t win Munster in 2013 but the majority of All-Ireland winners over the last 15 years have won their provincial title. It’s a good indication of you’re where you’re at.

"There will be massive atmosphere. The stadium will be sold out so if you can perform under that pressure and get a win it’s a serious indicator of how good a team you are to