Dónal Óg Cusack believes Clare are genuine All-Ireland contenders following the opening round of the Munster Championship.
The Banner were pushed hard at the finish by Waterford at Walsh Park after looking comfortable but still came away with a one-point victory.
"Clare have a terrific team. I think their potential is to win the All-Ireland," three-time All-ireland winner Cusack said on The Sunday Game.
"I know they'll be focusing themselves on a Munster championship, because Clare have won so few and they haven't won one in so long (since 1998).
"But for a team like that it will be a travesty if they don't win more All-Irelands."
"They'll be very happy. I know it was a one-point win in the end and they'll be slightly worried about the way that they let Waterford back into the game, but I'd imagine going home they'll be very satisfied."
'It'd be a travesty if they didn't win more All-Irelands' - .@DonalOgC on the potential of the Clare hurlers. #rtegaa #sundaygame pic.twitter.com/Ru0o0EOTAX
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) May 12, 2019
Cusack was a coach with Clare in 2016 and 2017 and he believes that many of the All-Ireland title winning crop of 2013 are only now coming into their prime.
Of yesterday's players who started against Waterford yesterday and the drawn final or replay against Cork six years ago, David McInerney (26), Colm Galvin (26), Tony Kelly (25) and Shane O'Donnell (24) are all under the age of 27. Podge Collins only reached that mark in January.
"One of the reasons I went there was I fully believed they had that potential. I still believe they have it," said Cusack.
"A lot of those players are only coming into their prime now.
"They came to national recognition when they were 21,22 but I know from my own career and dealing with players that you only really start coming into your prime when you're 25, 26, 27.
"There's great potential."
