In the summer of 1997, Clare hurling was riding the crest of a wave. An All-Ireland minor-senior double was achieved at Croke Park. Brian McMahon got the only goal of the game in the minor decider as the Under-18s beat Galway.
And now McMahon is trying leave his mark as a part-time horse trainer. We're a week out from Cheltenham and Sé Mo Laoch will take his chance in the Kim Muir Chase.
From, a small yard in Beagh on the Clare-Galway border, another Prestbury Park feel-good story is a possibility.
So can Sé Mo Laoch be in contention up that Cheltenham hill?
Speaking to RTÉ Sport's Eamon Horan, a quietly confident McMahon said: "It's all on the day you know because if you go over there in good form and get the breaks and jump well, I'd say he has a little bit left up his sleeve."
Former Clare hurler Brian McMahon is heading to the #CheltenhamFestival again and he believes his Sé Mo Laoch has a "squeak" in the Kim Muir Chase #rteracing pic.twitter.com/31dE2DtzCT
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 2, 2020
"If we can get the most out of him, I think he'll have a squeak.
"Listen, I'm not saying to have the week's wages on him, but as I said he'll have a squeak."
McMahon is a biochemist by profession and, in light of the outbreak of the coronavrus virus, was keen to put sporting affairs in perespective.
"I spent eight years in college studying to be a biochemist, while also mucking out stables," he added.
"We're actually working with the Chinese a lot at the moment and have been over and back a lot lately.
"It's interesting to see what's happening there with the coronavirus. There's a bigger picture outside racing which is good to get a perspective on."
