Kilkenny v Clare, Thurles, Sunday, 2pm
Clare’s reward for toppling Limerick in the Division 1B final is a date with Kilkenny.
While some might view that as a booby prize, the Banner will relish the challenge after several years in the wilderness after their exploits in the 1990s.
But Davy's Fitzgerald's men have already secured their primary goal of promotion and the Cats are usually ruthless in these situations.
Kilkenny will be without injured duo Henry Shefflin and Richie Hogan, but their 3-26 to 0-10 annihilation of Galway in the last round of the league served notice that the Cats are hell bent on regaining a league title they last lifted in 2009.
While the victory over the Tribesmen was a notable one, it came at a price in the form of Hogan’s injury. The Danesfort clubman suffered a collapsed lung and two broken ribs and has been told his recovery will take as long as it takes.
The attacker had enjoyed an excellent campaign, but his focus will turn now to recovering in time for Kilkenny’s Championship opener which is pencilled in for 23 June.
As ever with the Cats, however, one man’s misery is another man’s opportunity and a fringe player will be offered the chance to stake his claim.
Aside from the final scoreline in the Galway game, it was also important from a Kilkenny point of view that they bounced back from their defeat to Cork in the previous round. Manager Brian Cody, in his usual manner, described it as a “decent response”.
If Clare manage to win on Sunday, there would be no fear of Fitzgerald reacting in such a calm and measured way. The former Waterford manager has always worn his heart on his sleeve and his infectious enthusiasm has rubbed off on this Clare outfit in his few short months in charge.
They looked dead and buried in the 1B final against Limerick, as they trailed 1-14 to 0-09 ten minutes into the second half. But Fitzgerald’s sides never lack for heart and they managed to turn the situation around with a terrific comeback.
While it would have been understandable for Clare to rest on their laurels after promotion to Division 1A, the prospect of facing Kilkenny will have sharpened minds and they will need to be vigilant if they are to avoid the sort of hiding their neighbours to the north experienced.
Their chances of living with the All-Ireland champions will not be helped by the absence of centre-back James McInerney, who had to undergo surgery on a broken thumb.
Verdict: Kilkenny
