Back to the track once more for Davy Fitz and his stable of young colts. If there’s no particular mystery in the outcome here, Clare are never less than interesting all the same.
The feeling that they ought to be a cut above all this scrabbling about in the dirt of the qualifiers is undercut by the fact that they famously haven’t won a championship game since the All-Ireland final replay of 2013.
That will change today but will the sense of mission drift change with it? After all, a spell in the qualifiers was supposed to do them a world of good last year, but they had two goes at getting past Wexford and couldn't do it either time.
Munster was supposed to be a must this time around but they found Limerick too sturdy. There have been excuses – injuries, suspensions, football – but there comes a time. The next month is huge in Fitzy's managerial career.
Rock bottom
As for Offaly, no sooner do they seem to find rock bottom than they realise there’s another floor beneath them. Losing to Laois was probably inevitible at some stage but if would have felt no less shameful for it.
Brian Whelehan deserves better than having to roll this rock up the hill year after year.
Clare should put this to bed relatively quickly and we’ll likely see Colm Galvin and Aaron Cunningham come off the bench at some stage. Greater battles lie ahead.
Last meeting: All-Ireland SHC Qualifier Group B, July 8th 2006, Ennis – Clare 2-15 Offaly 1-9
Betting: Clare 1/33, Offaly 12/1, Draw 28/1
Just the ticket: Adults €15; Students & Seniors €10; U16 free
Injuries: Clare are missing Pat Donnellan (suspended) and Cathal O'Connell (calf).
Offaly: J Dempsey; N Wynne, D Shortt, D King; E Murphy, C Egan, P Camon; E Nolan, S Ryan; J Mulrooney, D Currams, P Murphy; S Dooley, J Bergin, B Carroll.
Clare: P Kelly; D McInerney, C Dillon, S Morey; B Bugler, C Ryan, J Browne; P O'Connor, C Ryan; J Conlon, T Kelly, S Golden; D Reidy, S O'Donnell, C McGrath.
Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow).
Verdict: Clare
