Shane O'Donnell chasing silver lining with Clare

Clare ace Shane O'Donnell knows that time is running out before he becomes just another stress-afflicted Banner supporter – and he desperately wants the silverware needed to make that transition all the less painful.

The big 30th birthday will be approaching when next season’s championship heads towards the business end, and O’Donnell would gladly delay any celebrations if it meant that he could add to a medal collection that has proven somewhat barren given what happened in his breakout year.

That was back in 2013. His Clare senior debut came in the low-key surroundings of a substitute appearance in January's Waterford Crystal Cup victory over University of Limerick, but by the close of the campaign he had a Celtic Cross, an All-Ireland final replay player of the match award and an All-Ireland Under-21 winning medal to his name.

Since then? Another U21 title the following year and an Allianz League in 2016. A few Munster Leagues for the county too. No hands back on the Liam MacCarthy, no end to Clare’s now 25-year wait for a provincial title.

Time is still on their side though and the way they pushed Limerick and Kilkenny in last year's championship suggests that their knocking on the door is being heard further down the hall.

"I think it's right in saying we're building a very nice trajectory," said O’Donnell, who was named the Gaelic Writers' Association Hurling Personality of the Year, in association with EirGrid.

"We've kind of mentioned a few times now about that senior group, but there's also a brilliant group, another group of players in that kind of younger [age] around 20 to 22.

"And the two lads for Young Player of the Year [Adam Hogan and Mark Rodgers], they are a great example, but there's a number of others that