Clare goalkeeper Pa Kelly is hoping that the momentum that took the side to All-Ireland glory in 2013 can again act as a catalyst for success in the weeks and months ahead.
The Banner face Waterford in Sunday’s Allianz League Division 1 final at Semple Stadium (3.30pm, live blog on RTÉ.ie). The game comes five weeks before the same sides lock horns in a Munster semi-final.
Clare’s last league title was in 1978, while previous provincial success came in 1998. Yet, three seasons ago under the urgings of Davy Fitzgerald, Clare embarked on a glorious run through the back door to land the All-Ireland.
For Kelly, rediscovering that drive from 2013 will be paramount after two disappointing seasons.
“That’s what you’re hoping for, 2013 was all about building momentum,” he told RTÉ Sport.
“Once we got going after the Wexford game (final qualifier) and then Galway (All-Ireland quarter-final), we really drove on. It’s all about timing and we timed our run well back then.
"When you're winning games, there's a buzz in training and everyone wants to go training"
"There's no good going well in April. We saw that back in 2014, we were absolutely flying it in the league and then, all of a sudden, we were out of the Championship in July and it was the same case last year.
"Our ambition this year is to be playing into August, and then into September. That's what we hope anyway."
Even though Clare failed to kick on after their All-Ireland triumph, the Inagh-Kilnamona clubman disputes the assertion that the side were in turmoil.
"If you break it down, we were losing games by a point or two and a score and there was a big rigmarole that Clare were on the way down," he added.
"We were just going through a bad set of results and obviously confidence was battered because of that.
"However, when you're winning games, there's a buzz in training and everyone wants to go training and you're in a better mood. That breeds success as well."
And so to Sunday afternoon’s joust in Thurles. Clare are unbeaten so far and you’d have to say that Davy Fitz’s men have kicked on from the win over Limerick on 20 March – a success that saw them gain promotion to Division 1A.
"I think the big game was the Limerick game, it was bonus territory after that," Kelly opined.
"We got over Tipp at home and that got us in to a league semi-final. There was a big emphasis then on getting to a league final.
Reflecting on the last-four triumph over Kilkenny, the Clare custodian said: "I thought overall we looked sharp on the day.
"We got breaks and we didn't have many wides compared to other games. Normally, we'd be up at 15 or 20 but I’d say we hit less than 10.
"We got the two quick goals and that settled us. We had a bit of a cushion and maybe stunned Kilkenny a bit.
"We had a decent lead at half-time, but then Kilkenny came at us strong early in the second half. Conor McGrath's super goal then pushed us on. Things went for us on the day but it’s not going to be like that every day."
And while Kelly is adamant that is not trying to build Waterford up ahead of Sunday’s decider, he is well aware what Derek McGrath’s side are now a force to be reckoned with.
"I genuinely think that Waterford are definitely up there with Kilkenny. They went through the league unbeaten last year, were beaten once this year by Dublin, so look their record speaks for itself.
"They've a serious system, a great management team, they're bulling fit, very fit and they're well able to play it around.
"They're good hurlers. I'm not bigging them up, I think they're a super team. Added to that, their main Pauric Mahony is back. He's a 90% free-taker, he's going to score nine or 10 out of 10 any day he goes out. So he's going to be a big plus for them."
Listen to live coverage of Clare v Waterford (3.30pm) on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Highlights on League Sunday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7.30pm.
