'Why I'm backing Clare for All-Ireland glory'

All-Ireland Hurling Final - Clare v Cork

Date: Sunday, 21 July Throw-in: 15:30 BST Venue: Croke Park, Dublin

Coverage: Watch connected BBC Two, BBC Two Northern Ireland, BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website & app; unrecorded matter commentary, report, guidance & highlights connected BBC Sport website & app

The apical 5 forwards of my procreation are Kilkenny's TJ Reid and Richie Hogan, Seamus Callanan of Tipperary, Joe Canning of Galway, and Cork's Patrick Horgan.

All of them person All-Ireland medals successful their backmost pouch isolated from for Patrick Horgan.

After 17 seasons lining retired for nan Rebels and complete a grounds 700 title points scored, is this nan twelvemonth that he yet gets his hands connected a Celtic Cross?

Standing successful his measurement is Clare's Tony Kelly, who is aiming to go only nan 3rd Banner skipper - aft Anthony Daly successful 1995 and 1997 and Patrick Donnellan successful 2013 - to assistance nan Liam MacCarthy Cup since nan trophy was first awarded successful 1923.

Both sides person lit nan All-Ireland bid alight this year, but travel Sunday evening I deliberation we will perceive nan Banner roar echoing astir nan cauldron of Croke Park.

This Clare squad are conscionable fresh to spell each nan way. There's a immense buzz astir nan region having yet flooded their semi-final hoodoo.

Brian Lohan was doubly successful connected nan large time arsenic a full-back successful nan 1995 and 1997 winning teams and now successful his 5th twelvemonth arsenic head will consciousness it is their clip again.

There is simply a corporate wrong this Clare squad that will consciousness this is their past chance, and they will want to return advantage of that (nine of nan starting squad are now edging into their 30s).

It's a different communicative for Cork. Other than Patrick Horgan and Seamus Harnedy, their starting 15 are a very young group. The wide request is greater successful that Clare squad.

However, it was 2005 erstwhile nan Rebels won their past All-Ireland and 19 years is simply a famine for a region pinch nan tradition, history and size of Cork.

Cork must unopen down Clare's 2 prima men successful Tony Kelly and Shane O'Donnell. Ciaran Joyce and Kelly will beryllium a immense battle, likewise pinch Eoin Downey marking O'Donnell, who has really steadied up that Cork defence on pinch his relative Robert Downey.

A existent root of spot for Clare is their replacements, Cathal Malone and David Fitzgerald person formed a superb midfield partnership. Although neither of them had a awesome effect connected nan semi-final, that doesn't mean they couldn't travel retired and really return this crippled by nan scruff of nan neck.

Cork, however, person played pinch existent state successful and astir nan mediate too, and Darragh Fitzgibbon has conscionable been electric. His athleticism really allows him to definitive himself successful nan unfastened spaces of Croke Park.

I deliberation he's successful hurler-of-the-year form, on pinch Shane O’Donnell. Whoever comes retired connected top, that could beryllium nan deciding factor. It’s really nicely group up.

Patrick Horgan could person a definitive opportunity successful this necktie without having group nan world alight this season, but Cork's renaissance is mostly owed to their half-forward line.

For nan past decade aliases more, Cork person not been capable to unafraid capable shot up nan section done superior possession to springiness them a level to onslaught teams, and this play they person conscionable recovered that balance.

Patrick Collins now has nan action of uncovering Barret aliases Fitzgibbon darting into nan channels aliases going agelong onto nan apical of Harnedy aliases Hayes, who often makes his measurement retired to title nan monster deliveries shape nan Cork goalkeeper.

Seamus Harnedy, now accompanied by 2 very tin assistants successful Declan Dalton and Shane Barrett, person had a awesome opportunity successful each 1 of Cork's large performances, crucially successful nan semi-final, wherever they contributed eleven points betwixt nan 3 of them (0-9 from play).

If that Clare half-back statement tin curb nan power of Cork's half-forward statement then, I deliberation it tips nan scales successful Clare's favour.

What was really evident against Kilkenny was nan power of nan Clare substitutions Ian Galvin, and particularly Ryan Taylor.

Taylor was conscionable backmost aft a afloat twelvemonth retired pursuing a cruciate operation, came connected to triumph six possessions successful nan last 20 minutes which was massive. He brought truthful overmuch energy, gait and activity complaint successful nan mediate which gave Clare that stranglehold successful nan mediate 3rd that drove them complete nan line.

Now everybody will say, 'well, what astir Cork’s effect disconnected nan bench?', pinch Shane Kingston doing harm astir of nan clip erstwhile introduced, but he didn't really adhd overmuch to it successful nan semi-final erstwhile he came on.

Cork besides person Robbie O'Flynn and Jack O'Connor successful reserve who, for illustration Kingston, person gait to burn.

The title has been phenomenal. Right from nan commencement location was sound and hype, not only for nan Munster Championship, but nan Leinster Championship was a superb occurrence too.

Galway being dumped retired earlier nan knock-out rounds conscionable shows really competitory Leinster has become. Dublin's thrust to nan provincial last added to nan level of title successful Leinster arsenic well.

Hurling is successful a really bully place. Cork and Limerick astatine Pair Ui Chaoimh was exceptional, and if we get thing for illustration that this Sunday, we're successful for a existent spectacle.

Both semi-finals were fantabulous but I don't deliberation this is simply a changing of nan guard. Limerick are not going to slice away, each clip they've had a setback, they've travel backmost moreover stronger. The Treaty will beryllium fiercely competitory again adjacent year.

But it's awesome that we're going to person a caller sanction connected nan Liam MacCarthy travel Sunday. It was becoming a small spot of a ‘who tin hit Limerick?’ competition, and now it's riveting, breathtaking and awesome for nan neutral.

Cork haven't won since 2005, Clare haven't won since 2013, truthful they've been a agelong clip waiting, and 2024 has been a activity of caller air.

In nan Munster round-robin necktie these sides served up a scorefest pinch Clare edging a 3-26 to 3-24 thriller. More of nan aforesaid please!