Good news on the double for Clare hurlers at the weekend with a thumping win over Laois on Saturday and the sight of David McInerney back starting for the county.
The former All Star lined out at centre back and got up field for three points, as the league holders put the championship defeat by Waterford behind them.
It marked his first start since the decisive league match against Limerick, who they face next in the All-Ireland qualifiers, back in March. A disc problem in his back has cleared and he says that whereas not back to top gear he is comfortable and improving.
Cautious
McInerney isn’t however going to read any positive auguries into the fact they also defeated Laois three years ago on the way to winning the All-Ireland through the qualifier system. “I wouldn’t believe in omens like that. I wouldn’t read too much into it. It’d be great if it came true. But it was good to get back on track yesterday and we’re just getting ready for Limerick now.”
News of the qualifier round two draw had just emerged when McInerney spoke in Croke Park at the Etihad Airways GAA World Games launch. He says the championship is wide open and they have no inhibitions playing the county that beat them a year ago.
“It’s good to be in the draw anyway. We’re happy, it didn’t matter who we got, we just have to focus on ourselves and get ready. The matches yesterday were good. Galway and Kilkenny are two good teams but I think you could see a winner coming from the qualifiers just as easy.
"We lost to them in the Munster championship last year. Next door neighbours and everything – college, friends with the lads, secondary school, just from playing underage and now senior – adds to it but we're looking forward to the game."
It was hard for him to miss the league final and replay win over Waterford but he believes that the form of 2013, which carried what was then a very young team to the All-Ireland is coming back.
“Yeah, you can see flashes of it in some games. I don’t think we’ve hit our maximum potential yet in any game but you can definitely see flashes of 2013. Some of the lads are going very well, others need to maybe pick it up a small bit but I think if we all gel on the day we can take anyone.”
