Staying close to Kerry would be progress for Clare - Lee Keegan

Lee Keegan says that Clare narrowing the gap to Kerry would be progress in 2024, but warns a victory is far-fetched.

Ennis will host the Munster football final for the first time since 1919 in a repeat of last year's decider, which the men from the Kingdom won by 14 points at the Gaelic Grounds.

Clare have only won the competition twice, with the most recent victory coming in 1992, but the departure of Colm Collins at the end of last season led some to suggest that the big ball game would regress in the county.

Under new manager Mark Fitzgerald, the Banner failed to gain promotion from Division 3 in the Allianz League, while their semi-final opponents Waterford propped up the entire league standings, finishing bottom of Division 4.

All told, it makes Kerry massive favourites for Sunday and Keegan, speaking on the RTÉ GAA Podcast, reckoned that Clare would be satisfied to merely cut the deficit at Cusack Park.

"I really thought Clare would be a team that would regress this year," he said.

"They've lost five of their team from last year and Mark Fitzgerald, I think he's done an absolutely brilliant job.

"He'll probably feel a bit aggrieved that they're still in Division 3 because you look at the Westmeath game and they got a bad decision that kept them down there. He's done a brilliant job.

"Clare are so dogged, and they're as honest a bunch of players as I've ever come across. Even under Collins, they would do anything for Clare football and that's no different to what Mark and that team are doing now.

"I'm shocked they've done as well as they have. I would love to see Clare, similar to what Sligo did against Galway, can they just bridge that score difference and even make it a little closer.

"That, to me, is progression for