Tipperary and Clare hurlers are acutely aware that winning start is all-important

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Sunday’s Munster Championship opener at Ennis will be the 57th such meeting between Tipperary and Clare. It’s a rivalry that stretches back through the decades, one that has fluctuated in intensity over the years.

Undeniably, the rawest rivalry was in the 1990s. The Banner, rising under Loughnane, needed external enemies for motivational purposes and Tipperary was as convenient a target as any – more convenient than most.

There was a toxicity to the rivalry back then, one that is difficult for the modern generation to appreciate. The 1999 Munster Under 21 final at Ennis, for example, still stands apart for me as the ugliest hurling fixture I ever attended. The atmosphere that night in Cusack Park was poisonous.

Thankfully, things are very different nowadays, though the rivalry will still be intense. Historically Tipperary have dominated, winning 38 of the 56 previous meetings, losing 14 and drawing 4.

We lost the corresponding fixture last year at Semple Stadium. The end margin was only eight points but it felt like an eight-point hammering on the day. One still has visions of our defence parting like the waters of the Red Sea for some of the Clare scores.

However, that was in the context of a very troubled season. This time we’re more upbeat after a bright league campaign.

1986 was the only year Tipperary lost a championship game to Clare in Ennis. Who dares to speak of ’86? That was a nightmare that still recurs every time I visit Cusack Park. The promise of the early eighties with its underage success, and then the near miss of 1984, vanished that day in a most depressing outcome.

It wasn’t that Clare were impressive, it was more that Tipperary were dire. There were injuries, Nicky English, for example, unable to play, but I’ve never felt such despondency after a championship defeat. All the hope of previous years simply wiped. Of course, ultimately it was the darkest hour before the dawn as “Babs” rolled into town the following year.

Anyway, it’s a new era (hopefully) and a new season on Sunday in what is a crunch, tone-setting tie. Modern journalism is prone to hyperbole but it’s no exaggeration to stress the crunch nature of this fixture for both counties.

A winning start in this round robin series is all-important. Lose and you’re immediately on the back foot, playing catch up, trying to regain momentum. Win your opening bout and some of the pressure is eased, the mood is up and you drive on optimistically.

Clare blew up a storm in last year’s Munster Championship, drawing with Limerick and beating all others in the round robin. Their Munster final with Limerick was epic. Ultimately, however, their year crashed to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Since then they’ve had a patchy league run, finishing fourth in their group, so we don’t quite know their whereabouts in the overall scheme of affairs. At their best they’re a match for any but how near are they to that level?

The Tipperary lineout will be watched with interest. Barry Hogan will surely be goalie and the return of Cathal Barrett strengthens the full back line. I assume the management will stick with Michael Breen at full so that leaves the other corner where, perhaps, Johnny Ryan is best placed to start.

Ronan Maher and Bryan O’Mara look destined for the half line with, I’d guess, players like Dan McCormack and Brian McGrath best placed to complete the formation.

I’d expect to see Alan Tynan at midfield, with Conor Stakelum or Noel McGrath likely partners.

Jason Forde, Seamus Kennedy and Gearoid O’Connor will surely start in attack. Perhaps Jake Morris too.

Thereafter the options come into play. John McGrath is said to be making a strong push for his place so he’s sure to appear at some stage, if not starting. “Bonner” Maher is in the mix as are Mark Kehoe and Conor Bowe. Sean Ryan might be a dark horse, according to some.

Liam Cahill’s selections have been unpredictable and that will hardly change now. Either way you’ll need eighteen or twenty players to see out a game like this.

Clare’s fortunes tend to pivot around Tony Kelly so his impact could be crucial. Again, they have a mix of established and some younger players.

The bookies have the Banner listed as very marginal favourites, 10/11 versus 11/10. To me that’s a 50/50 game, with everything riding of form and fortune of the day. Let’s hope the fates tilt our way and that ’86 remains a standalone exception.

Elsewhere, Fergal Horgan’s decision to quit refereeing has sparked much commentary both locally and nationally. It’s a big call by one who’s been at the top of his trade for some time now, his three All-Irelands representing the pinnacle points of an outstanding career.

Disenchantment with Croke Park and his match allocation are central to Fergal’s stated reasons for stepping aside. After refereeing the finals of 2017, 2020 and 2021, his profile faded last year, with very few assignments coming his way.

It’s disappointing to see such a messy end to a really fine career, one that won many plaudits. He was widely acknowledged as the best in the business during his time. He combined an instinctive understanding of the game with a big-match temperament. He was at his best on the biggest days, confident and decisive.

Many have paid tribute too to his easy interaction with the players, explaining decisions and being firm without condescension. There’s no denying he’ll be a major loss.

My own suspicion is that local events may have played poorly with Croke Park and the referees’ committee. In 2021 Fergal didn’t referee for the County Board following a dispute over the rescinding of a Jack Morris red card in the 2020 county semi-final. Last year Fergal was also in the spotlight following an underage club game.

Such events don’t go unnoticed at headquarters.

Anyway, it was thought initially that his withdrawal was only from inter-county involvement but it actually includes club activity as well, which is a real pity. As the only Tipperary man to do three hurling finals, his record will stand proudly. It’s just a pity it had such a regrettable finish.

Finally, the recent, sad and premature passing of referee, Noel Cosgrave, came as a jolt to all of us who knew him. He did the association considerable service over the years. Like the rest of us he made mistakes - and probably didn’t appreciate some of them being pointed up here.

Yet he forever remained courteous and you had the sense of an honest man who always strove to do his best.

The heartfelt sympathy of the column goes to AnneMarie and all who mourn his passing.