Clare Champions St Joseph's Doora-Barefield go into tomorrow's AIB Munster final trying to create a record. No county has provided in successive years four different clubs who have won the Munster title.
Cork sent out the formidable trio of Blackrock, St Finbarr's and Glen Rovers to win successive All-Irelands twice in the 1970s - and in all seven years out of eight - but never managed to find a fourth club to emulate the achievement at provincial level.
In Clare's case, only Sixmilebridge, who started the sequence three years ago, have actually gone on to win the All-Ireland, but the sense of belief within the county has soared as both club and county teams have enjoyed unparalleled success.
In one view it was no co-incidence that Sixmilebridge landed the All-Ireland within six months of Clare setting the precedent in the 1995 championship.
Gerry McInerney is a journalist with the Clare Champion. He played a leading role in the 'Bridge's success, ending the club championship as top scorer with 5-15 from four matches - having already won the award for leading scorer in the Clare championship. In Centenary year, 1984, he had been top scorer in the Munster final when Sixmilebridge became the first and, for 11 years, only Clare side to win the province.
According to him, the success of Ger Loughnane's team in 1995 had a major impact on the clubs. "In the year that was in it, everyone wanted to win the '95 county title after Clare winning the All-Ireland. I think club sides modelled themselves on the training being done by the county team.
"They broke with the old Tuesday and Thursday and a match at the weekend and started training four and five nights a week. So Sixmilebridge started doing the same, four and five times a week, with the early morning stuff and the weekend sessions. It was unheard of at the time."
Sean Stack, recently co-opted as a Clare selector, was playercoach of the 1984 team. He had the unusual distinction of playing for Sixmilebridge while coaching Toomevara in the 1994 Munster final when the clubs met. He stepped down in Toom, but resumed after the defeat of his home club.
He disagrees with the popular analysis. "Everyone attributes it to Clare's success, but that hasn't been the case. Sixmilebridge were in six finals before winning their second. This hasn't been overnight success.
"The four successful clubs all have great structures from the bottom up and have been successful at under-age level, for instance there or thereabouts at Feile. All have their minor system separate to the senior, with separate clubs which allows them concentrate on bringing young hurlers through.
"All four are also from reasonably big population centres, but not urban centres which tend not to be as successful. People look at Sixmilebridge, Shannon, St Joseph's and Clarecastle and think they're just on the periphery of Ennis, but they're still rural societies."
McInernery says he had always believed that once a breakthrough was made, Clare teams would continue to do well in the club championship. Sixmilebridge's spectacular run from Clare to the All-Ireland with scores of 5-11, 218, 5-11 and 5-10 opened the door and Wolfe Tones of Shannon, with Brian and Frank Lohan leading from the back, reached the following year's final only to lose to Athenry.
Last season Clarecastle followed and although disappointment followed, it was after an epic replayed semi-final against eventual champions Birr ended in narrow defeat in extra-time.
What was initially seen as a great liberation is becoming a considerable pressure. St Joseph's go into action tomorrow expected to win against Tipperary champions Toomevara, All-Ireland finalists in 1994, and so provide Clare with a record club achievement.
The club's credentials are impressive. Last night three of the team, Sean McMahon, Ollie Baker and Jamesie O'Connor, received All Stars in the Burlington. But the effectiveness of club sides is based on the strength of the weakest links rather than on the strongest. In this respect St Joseph's are an improved side with county and Sigerson footballer Joe Considine cutting a swathe at midfield, even in Baker's elevated company.
With his specialist knowledge of Toomevara, Stack is well placed to judge the competing claims of tomorrow's finalists. Although he denies being diplomatic, Stack says it's "too close to call", but is optimistic about the winners' prospects.
"It will be a titanic struggle. Both teams are class acts and I would see the All-Ireland being between them and Athenry."
