Faith.
How else to explain a team beaten in three successive Munster finals and two All-Ireland semis finally reaching the promised land?
Many doubted if it was ever going to happen for Clare under Brian Lohan but, in his fifth year as manager, after many crushing blows to belief, the Banner's trust in their messiah was justified with a biblical epic of a final victory over Cork.
"In Clare, hurling is like a religion and Brian Lohan is like our God," said captain Tony Kelly after accepting the Liam MacCarthy Cup, thanks in no small part to his own minor miracles on the pitch.
Reposing afterwards in the depths of the GAA's Jones' Road cathedral, Kelly expanded on the players' admiration for the four-time All-Star full-back who has led them to paradise for just the fifth time.
"Since he has come in, everything has been for the betterment of Clare," Kelly told RTÉ Sport.
"We were were probably in the media pre-Covid for not having our s**t together, our centre of excellence was always on it. We were never on it for an unbelievable match or performance, it was always what's going on in Clare, or who is rowing with you.
"But since he came in, he cleaned up everything behind the scenes.
"Then, from a players' point of view, he just has us eating out of the palm of his hand. Because he played and was such a legend, he has that the minute he walks into the dressing room.
"He is teak-tough in how he comes across in the media, but to us, he would defend you to the hilt. He is tough, he is a sound man as well behind it all, if you can believe that. He has a softer side to him. He is just a legend."
The devotion is mutual.
Having been Clare’s rock throughout the 11 years since their last All-Ireland triumph, Kelly had not been as influential on his return from injury this season, only really hitting top gear in the second half of the semi-final comeback against Kilkenny.
After another quiet first half, Kelly scored a divine goal, flicking the ball over Cork skipper Sean O’Donoghue and finishing off the hurl, going on to score four superb points between then and the end of the first ever extra-time hurling final.
Captain Tony Kelly with some superb individual play to score Clare's third goal
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 21, 2024
They take a grip on the game
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"Tony just caught fire in the second half and on into extra time," said Lohan.
"When Tony is playing, there is a different dimension for us. When he’s there, there is always that threat regardless of what position in the field he plays in, whether he is in the middle of the field, centre forward or full forward, there is that threat. And if a team ignores him, they will suffer.
"We are just delighted to have him, absolutely delighted that he has gone up as captain of the team and collected the Liam MacCarthy.
"Delighted for the lads to get the ultimate reward in hurling, and delighted for Tony that he was able to go up the steps of the Hogan Stand and collect that trophy on behalf of the county.
"Brilliant for all the panel of players, and in particular brilliant for all those guys that have got their second All-Ireland now."
"Those guys" are the six survivors from 2013 who have now equalled Lohan's 1995 and '97 team-mates as double All-Ireland winners: Kelly, Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year John Conlon, David McInerney, Seadna Morey, Peter Duggan (a panellist) and Shane O’Donnell, then a 19-year-old hat-trick hero and the favourite for the top prize this season.
O’Donnell sparked his team into life yesterday with an assist for Aidan McCarthy’s goal and two quickfire points when they were seven behind early on, but was in rapture witnessing his team-mate in full flight as he went close to winning the game for Clare with a superb point in normal time and followed that up with an even better effort in the 88th minute.
Tony Kelly, he is unstoppable
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"You're just thinking 'Thank God' [presumably not Brian Lohan]," said O’Donnell. "When Tony gets going there's nobody better and it's just a matter of trying to keep feeding him as much ball as possible and sometimes just get out of his way.
"He just does things that you don't think are possible and you kind of just stand back and are in awe of it, especially in the last 10, 15 minutes."
O'Donnell was praying to the patron saint of forwards when forced to watch the last 10 minutes of extra time from the bench.
"Myself and [Conor] Cleary were beside each other on the sideline and were just willing everyone to get the ball to Tony, and it's not the first time we've been in that scenario! He's just an exceptional player and it's a privilege to play with him."
O'Donnell came close to quitting the game after suffering a severe concussion in 2021.
"Thank God I didn’t make that decision," he said. "I was very close to that. A lot of years you think you’re close [to winning] and then it just stops.
"This year we weren’t playing amazing at certain stages of the year, but just managed to turn the screw and win an epic battle.
"It’s very hard to describe – just an outpouring of emotion that’s 10 years in the making. To get a day like today just makes 10 years of hardship worthwhile."
O’Donnell skips the league these days through choice but Kelly missed it due to an ankle/shin issue that required surgery in December.
"Once you kind of know and you’ve got a date of return, it’s not too bad," he said.
"And you have the likes of Ryan Taylor who was in that rehab corner – and yer man [Shane O’Donnell] decided to come back in around March or April, so you’ve got a couple of bodies in there to keep you going. Unlucky for the likes of Ryan to be in there but it’s good to have someone to train with.
"Eleven years ago we were coming off underage success thinking 'Jeez, this is mighty – you turn up and you win, or you get to finals year in year out’. When you do that in your first or second year in senior you think it’s kind of run-of-the-mill.
"The hardship makes you appreciate it as you get older, definitely. For the lads from 2013 it’s mighty for them as well, who have stuck the course.
"Like, we’ve been beaten in four Munster finals, got a bit of stick for not backing up that 2013 All-Ireland, even though it’s a different team. For the likes of John Conlon, Davy Mc, those type of characters, that makes it extra sweet.
"John is pretty much the leader of the pack, really. He's the elder statemen on the team. Obviously, he is a talented hurler but his application, drive, willingness to bring young lads together, older lads together, he is just, I would consider him on the same level as a Seanie McMahon, Brian Lohan, Colin Lynch.
"In Clare, it is like Lohan, McMahon, and Conlon has the same aura about him. His leadership ability is just second to none. He will go down as one of the best Clare players. He is 35, but he said he is doing another year. He said he is going to play until he is 36. Looks after himself incredibly well. No fear of him."
Lohan observed that "When you’ve got the likes of Tony and Shane [O’Donnell] and John [Conlon] and Diarmuid [Ryan] and Conor Cleary on the field, you always have a chance".
But Cleary (shoulder), O’Donnell and Ryan (cramp) had all been forced off by half-time in extra time when Cork looked to be getting on top. Other disciples stepped forward.
"We had great faith in the group, great faith in the panel of players that we picked. We didn’t expect it to go to extra time but, when it did, there was good belief in the group.
"We changed around at the end of normal time and I thought we approached it well, and delighted for the guys that came on and got up to the pitch of the game in the manner that they did. So, happy with the full panel."
New gods and old answering the Banner faithful's prayers.
Clare 3-29 Cork 1-34 highlights:
