Munster final loss against Limerick was hard to take after so many near misses Clare hope they will finally have their day in the sun against Limerick. Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile Phil Thompson, who captained Liverpool to their famous European Cup final win over Read Madrid in 1981, is credited with coining the ‘sick as a parrot’ cliche. In the wake of another Munster final loss to Limerick, there are probably a lot of Clare players, mentors and fans as ‘sick as parrots’ right now.
The Banner created an unwanted footnote by becoming the first county to lose three successive Munster finals to the same opponents. The success of the GAA is anchored in high-profile rivalries, be it Kerry v Dublin, Kerry v Cork, Dublin v Meath, Dublin v Mayo or Kilkenny v Wexford in hurling. Kilkenny’s win over Wexford in this season’s round-robin series was their first championship victory over Wexford since 2018.
But historically, the Cats have repeatedly broken Wexford hearts. Kilkenny beat them in six provincial deciders in a row in 1970 and inflicted even more pain during the Brian Cody era, defeating them in sevens finals between 2001 and 2008. Were it not for Mick Jacob’s last-minute goal in the 2004 Leinster semi-final, Wexford would have lost eight championship clashes on the spin to Kilkenny.
Yet Tom Dempsey’s passion for hurling was infused by watching his native Wexford against the Cats in the 1970s. “I always remember Eddie Keher tying his lace before putting the b.
