Clare have learned, says McInerney

ALTHOUGH last week's injury time dramatics yielded Clare only a draw with Cork, it represented a considerable advance on last year's meeting between the teams, won comfortably by Cork. Now Clare return to Pairc Ui Chaoimh for tomorrow's replay, happy to have survived if regretful that they didn't finish the job in Ennis.

"The result wasn't too bad," says Francis McInerney, who captained the team in their memorable Munster title winning year of 1992, and who stands in for this year's injured captain Ciaran O'Mahony.

"Last year we got a good start and fell away and this year we were a few points down but came back. We were fortunate to get a draw although I thought we deserved it and Aidan O'Keeffe still had to put the 45 over the bar."

The lessons of last year's fade out didn't go unheeded by Clare's manager, former Kerry All Ireland medallist John O'Keeffe.

"We were very disappointed last year to let the lead slip away," says McInerney, "And this time, we'd done a lot of fitness work. Johnno wanted us to compete over 70 minutes. Last year we couldn't keep going after a good start. This year we were competing well.

Last week's comeback was a welcome improvement in the county's fortunes since the success of four years ago. In the meantime Clare have disappointed, losing twice to Cork and once to Tipperary.

John Maughan, the Army officer who led them to the Munster triumph, has since taken over as manager of his own county, Mayo, and O'Keeffe is now in his second year. McInerney outlines the differences in approach.

"I suppose Johnno is a different type of personality. John Maughan emphasised fitness and discipline. Johnno emphasises football and leaving decisions to the individual. He's a very nice fella, for all he's won."

For all the memorable scenes in both west Clare and Croke Park four years ago, has anything changed for the footballers? McInerney is in no doubt.

"We have (progressed). Before 92 Clare were playing in Division Three. John Maughan brought us up to Division One which improved our football. It also showed younger players that with a big effort you can succeed, that players in Clare can be as good as anywhere.

"After that interest in football heightened, particularly in the east of the county. Now hurling has taken over there again and football is still predominantly in the west. With hurling doing well there's pressure on football to perform."

Given the element of surprise wasn't last Sunday in Ennis the most likely opportunity of unhorsing Cork, particularly when the comparative strangeness of the Cork venue is taken into account?

"The best chance is always the first time of asking," says McInerney. "People will feel we blew it. It's up to us. Pairc Ui Chaoimh is a stadium type ground with stands on both sides. Last year was the first time I'd ever played there and it was a big difference. There was the sense of travelling down there and the support not being as great - because the support helped us last week."

Although the team is consolidated as a tenant of the top half of the League, McInerney realises that the new found status isn't guaranteed. "There's always a danger you can slip back. When you get a chance to do well, take it. You have to make the best of things when you don't have a big pick."