In the wake of a bad defeat, managers will usually say something about reviewing the tapes and assessing what went wrong before learning from it and coming again.
Brian Lohan didn't say that after last year's catastrophic semi-final defeat to Kilkenny. In fact, Clare didn't say anything publically, swerving that particular responsibility.
Avoiding the media has been a theme during the frustratingly muted build-up to the annual festival of hurling at Croke Park, with the same four counties who faced off at this stage last year facilitating no press access.
Lohan, as player and manager, has always been inclined to let his actions do the talking, but there is no doubt he and his selectors studied the evidence from last year's 12-point defeat to the Leinster champions, who many had expected to be swept aside by the second best team in the divine province of Munster.
That was Brian Cody's last win in Croke Park as Kilkenny manager, replaced as he was in the wake of the defeat to Limerick by Derek Lyng, who has no doubt also studied the tape of last year's semi-final.
At a glance not much has changed: Clare the closest challenger to Limerick in Munster, ruing what might have been in a close Munster final, fancied to take care of a Kilkenny side who failed to convince in their Leinster final win over Galway.
Rather than a draining quarter-final victory over Wexford though, Clare had a comfortable outing against Dublin. So having been the first team since Kilkenny in 2019 to beat Limerick in championship, the Banner have every reason to be confident.
Or do they?
Because the qualities that led to that Kilkenny win 12 months ago still exist, while Clare's perceived weaknesses have not necessarily been eradicated.
Kilkenny's aerial prowess wreaked havoc last year, with Martin Keoghan, his half-time replacement Walter Walsh, Eoin Cody and TJ Reid dominating the skies over the Clare full-back line.
How that last line of defence could use Lohan in his prime, however the indicated return of Conor Cleary, who injured his shoulder against Cork on 21 May, would be a huge boon. Lohan's named teams come with something of a health warning however. The full-back was named to start in the Munster final also.
Tony Kelly struck a hat-trick as the Banner made light work of the Dubs last time out, but one of the defining images of last year's meeting was the Ballyhea maestro for the 70 minutes wearing a well-fitted coat that bore a striking resemblance to Mikey Butler.
The Kilkenny defender earned his All-Star and all but removed Kelly from the Player of the Year conversation with a sensational performance, limiting his unfortunate victim to four points from placed balls.
What to do with Kelly this year? Will Lohan bring him out to midfield, to try and unsettle the O'Loughlin Gaels limpet, or will he back his talisman to get the better of Butler on his own ground? After all, Butler was a goal-scorer against Galway, perhaps bringing him out the field would be inviting the fox into the hen house.
If Kelly stays up front, it will be Cathal Malone and the wonderful David Fitzgerald matching up against Conor Fogarty and the fit-again Adrian Mullen around the middle.
As with every game of hurling in this era, the matter may well be decided in the middle third and it is here that Clare may have the upper hand. Fitzgerald is the powerhouse but a fit John Conlon, alongside David McInerney, adds poise and experience that was lacking last year.
The busy Shane O'Donnell will ask questions of a Kilkenny half-back line marshalled by Richie Reid and Paddy Deegan, but the Banner will miss the in-form Aidan McCarthy, not least for his free-taking ability.
Kilkenny's early season talisman Billy Drennan is fit enough for the 26 and may have a say down the stretch, with the Kilkenny bench arguably the more likely to make a telling impact.
Clare's form line suggests they are favourites. They overcame the opening-day loss to Tipperary, when the Premier's ruthless forwards ruined Eamonn Foudy's debut in nets. After that they took Limerick's scalp, accounted for Waterford and scraped past Cork before that frustrating final defeat.
The notches on Kilkenny's caman are less impressive. Antrim and Westmeath battered, a pedestrian draw at home to Galway, a win over Dublin and that frenetic final-round defeat to a desperate Wexford, all leading to that Leinster final where Cillian Buckley's last-gasp goal put a halt to Galway's comeback.
However, Lohan will know, if ever a team were allergic to the logic of form it is Kilkenny. Cody's retirement is unlikely to change that, with observers praising Lyng for his ability to preserve what made Cody's squads great (work ethic, desire, courage, ruthlessness) and marry it with some mild modernisations, such as shorter puck-outs when warranted.
So, can a more keyed-in Clare improve on last year's performance? Undoubtedly. Can they bridge a 12-point deficit? Not so sure. Particularly when you factor in the Croke Park factor, Kilkenny's home away from Nowlan Park.
Lyng to deliver an All-Ireland final appearance at his first attempt.
Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Paddy Deegan; Conor Fogarty, Adrian Mullen; Tom Phelan, Martin Keoghan, John Donnelly; Billy Ryan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.
Subs: Darren Brennan, Conor Delaney, Cillian Buckley, Pádraig Walsh, Darragh Corcoran, Alan Murphy, Cian Kenny, Timmy Clifford, Walter Walsh, Richie Hogan, Billy Drennan.
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Rory Hayes; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; Cathal Malone, David Fitzgerald; Peter Duggan, Tony Kelly, Ryan Taylor; Ian Galvin, Shane O'Donnell, Mark Rodgers.
Subs: Eamonn Foudy, Aron Shanagher, Cian Galvin, Cian Nolan, Darragh Lohan, David Reidy, Patrick Crotty, Paul Flanagan, Robin Mounsey, Seadna Morey, Shane Meehan.
Ref: Colm Lyons (Cork)
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