Clare's rapid response team may have a bit longer than usual to strike back, but the message from Young Hurler of the Year Adam Hogan was clear – write off the Banner at your peril.
It’s been a tough few weeks for Brian Lohan’s side. First there was the confirmation that last year’s Player of the Year Shane O’Donnell had likely been ruled out of their All-Ireland back-to-back bid before relegation was confirmed ahead of Saturday’s final game against Tipperary.
But the Feakle man has seen his side escape tricky situations in the past, such as opening their last two Munster campaigns with defeat before reaching consecutive provincial deciders.
With nothing on the line against Tipp in the league this weekend, it’s likely to resemble a challenge match with the red circle undoubtedly going around 20 April and the Easter Sunday visit of a Cork side that put 6-20 on them a fortnight ago to all but confirm their relegation, Kilkenny applying the coup de grâce with victory over Limerick last weekend.
"As a Clare team, we've come back from losing a Munster final last year to winning the All-Ireland, so I suppose it shows the grit in the team and we don't stop," said Hogan, speaking at the oneills.com Under-20 All-Ireland Hurling Championship launch.
"That's one of our goals, to make Cusack Park a fortress and we want to win all our games there because it's such a hard space to go, so we want to make it hard for teams.
"The last two years have been disappointing, losing our first round, so we want to get that right and I suppose it was disappointing because it's such a good atmosphere and we want to give the Clare supporters something to cheer about come the first round."
The last few weeks have been a world away from the Liam MacCarthy celebrations of last July and the individual awards that followed for his stunning work at the back.
Hogan refutes any suggestion that this year’s league performances are due to an emotional comedown from the success of that period.
"Definitely not a hangover, I don't think, I suppose we haven't been up to scratch and we haven't been good enough. The last day showed that we weren't good enough.
"Cork were the way better team, but I suppose it's good to get it now, the realisation that if we don't play to our ability, what will come on 20 April. Building now to 20 April and hopefully we'll rectify what happened against Cork last weekend."
O’Donnell’s absence casts an attacking shadow over the side, but Hogan is confident that there is enough sharpness in their blade to trouble any defence with Aidan McCarthy, Mark Rodgers and Tony Kelly all finishing in the top 15 of championship scorers in 2024.
"It's obviously a big blow I suppose, the Hurler of the Year - it's obviously going to be a big blow to the team but I'm confident we have the calibre of players like Tony and Peter Duggan and Mark Rodgers.
"I know Shane, it’s hard to replace him but I think we have the calibre of players in our depth and hopefully I suppose during the league the lads will be putting their hands up as well.
"I know the results haven't gone our way, but the lads will be putting their hands up to replace Shane. It's going to be hard to replace him but I think we have the calibre of players and we have the leaders as well like Tony."
One consequence of Clare’s poor start to the league is the weakening of their name as a possible Liam MacCarthy contender with Cork and Limerick the sides on most people’s lips.
Hogan is just fine with that. Let the media speculate, but it’ll matter little when the championship heats up.
"It's kind of right that everyone is talking about Limerick, Cork. They're doing well in the league and we're not so it's fair enough.
"In terms of the group we're confident in our abilities, so I think that's the only thing that matters. Whatever happens outside the group and whoever the media are talking about, they can talk about, but the main thing is that we're confident in our abilities and we know what to do to get over the line in championship games."
Watch Cork v Galway in the Allianz Hurling League on Saturday from 7.20pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
Watch Allianz League Sunday from 10.20pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates around the country on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
