Clare have named their side for Wednesday night’s Round Four tie in the Fulfil Munster U20 Hurling Championship against Cork.

Terence Fahy keeps faith with the same defence, with Eoghan Gunning named to start despite a second-half injury scare last week. Thomas O’Connor again lines out at full-forward after troubling Tipperary, with Paul Rodgers and Seán Boyce in the corners. O’Connor’s club mate Graham Ball partners last week’s Man of the Match Daniel Costelloe at midfield. James Hegarty, continuing his recovery from injury, is named on the bench.

If the narrative is that Clare have spluttered their way through the campaign so far, Terence Fahy and his management team could certainly be forgiven for asking what more they’re supposed to do. The Banner sit top of an ultra‑competitive Fulfil Munster Championship table with three wins from three, heading into Wednesday’s trip to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. 

Granted, there are improvements needed from all three championship ties so far but with a maximum haul of wins, Clare have defiantly earned the position of having their destiny in their own hands. 

All three victories have been forged with late barnstorming finishes when each tie looked to be in jeopardy. A rusty performance against an impressive Waterford side the first day out was rescued with a Fred Hegarty goal. An uplifting last quarter against neighbours Limerick saw Fahy’s side chalk up the last four points unanswered to win by three and who will forget the drama in Semple Stadium last week when Clare turned around a six point deficit within two injury time minutes to salvage a one point win? What can’t be questioned is the squad’s character.

With Cork and Tipp also winning their ties against Waterford and Tipperary narrowly turning over Cork in Round One it means that the two semi Finalists and finalists will come from those three teams. 

Clare sit in pole position on six points after three wins from three, with Cork and Tipperary chasing on four points apiece. If two teams finish level, the head‑to‑head result decides the order; if all three end up tied, scoring difference comes into play.

A Clare victory at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh this Wednesday would seal their place in the final and push Cork down to third. Even if Tipp were to slip up against an albeit dangerous Limerick side playing now only for pride, they would still hold the head‑to‑head edge over Cork.

A share of the spoils on Leeside would leave Clare top and factor in the Tipp v Limerick result to see who finishes second.

 If Cork get the win and Tipp don’t manage to take care of business at TUS Gaelic Grounds, the Rebels would leap to the top of the table and book their place in the final thanks to the head‑to‑head over Clare. But if both Cork and Tipp come out on top, all three counties would finish on six points and scoring difference would be needed to separate them.

Right now, Cork are on +10, Clare on +5 and Tipp on +2. In that three‑way tie, Cork would stay ahead of Clare, leaving the size of Tipp’s win as the key factor. If the Premier beat Limerick by eight points more than Cork beat Clare, they would take first place; anything less keeps Cork on top, with Clare’s scoring difference then deciding whether they land in second or third.

There are a host of permutations in play, but a determined Clare side will be hoping to cut through it all by securing a second win on the banks of the Lee in as many years.

Throw in is at 7:00pm and match tickets are available at https://munster.gaa.ie/fixtures/munster-gaa-tickets/