Brendan Cummins believes that Clare's courageous approach towards Limerick gives them a great chance of stopping the Green Machine in Sunday's Munster hurling final.
The three-in-a-row All-Ireland champions are seeking a fifth successive provincial crown in what is a rematch of last year's closely-fought decider. But The Banner have since inflicted their only defeat in 20 championship games.
"They have an element of bravery about the way they play," the former Tipperary goalkeeper told the RTÉ GAA podcast.
"Yes, they have tactics, they have a way they want to play, but they will chase Limerick all over the pitch on Sunday. Every game, that is what they have done, and the haven’t gotten fleeced at any stage.
"That takes an amazing bravery. Normally, when you’re setting up to play Limerick, you would say your centre-back, more often than not, try to stay around our 45 and cut off the ball going in to [Aaron] Gillane and [Séamus] Flanagan. John Conlon on Sunday will be ponying up the pitch, nearly on the Limerick 65 at times, maybe following Cian Lynch.
"Because Conor Cleary is injured, that is the only question I have in my head, that level of experience is now gone. If you are following Limerick all over the pitch, if I’m John Kiely I’m saying, ‘Okay, there’s an opportunity here’. But that won’t change the belief structure that Brian Lohan has, that every man wins his individual battle.
"That bravery has been key in Limerick consistently being under serious pressure against this Clare team."
Limerick edged past Cork by a point on the final day of the round-robin, having been faced with elimination if they lost.
"Limerick have certainly lost an element of momentum and the fear factor they would have had," said Cummins.
"They're still there and they’re not playing to their full potential but it’s very hard to just switch it on.
"Teams start to catch up. There’s a psychological tilt towards, 'Why can’t we beat them?’ and I think a lot of the counties have gone to that level now.
"That psychological change has been huge and Clare have really been the leaders in creating that. Galway got them down the home straight a couple of times and couldn’t seal the deal."
"If they lose this, the narrative after the game is that Limerick are still better than everybody else"
However, the two-time All-Ireland winner warns that a loss would be devastating for the challengers and revitalise Limerick's bid for four in a row.
"Clare have a huge opportunity. If I'm a Clare player, I’m saying, 'It’s no fluke that we’re close to this Limerick crowd and it’s about time we got across the line’.
"They need to get across the line after last year’s experience, the Munster final and the beating they got in the All-Ireland semi from Kilkenny.
"They have to be ravenous for this. If they lose this, the narrative after the game is that Limerick are still better than everybody else, no matter what way you paint it. 'Clare fell at the final hurdle again, gallant losers', all that stuff you hate to hear as a player.
"I think they will jump the fence this weekend, because of that hurt, the fear of that happening and the resilience they have. That might be enough. Deep down inside, they won’t want to wake up beaten on Monday morning, more than the Limerick lads.
"A loss is a huge psychological thing at this time of the year. If Limerick win, they become red-hot favourites to win the All-Ireland with the rest that they’re going to get."
Listen to the RTÉ GAA Podcast on the RTÉ Radio Player, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts
Watch a provincial hurling final double-header on Sunday, Limerick v Clare (1.45pm) and Kilkenny v Galway (4pm), follow a live blog on all matches on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to updates throughout the day on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
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