Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

FOR THE WEEKEND that’s in it, we salute the fans of the Clare hurlers.

Here’s 19 signs to recognise the Banner faithful…

19. You’ve heard tales from men who fear to speak of the Munster finals of ’77 and ’78

YouTube: Conor Ryan

18. You’d rather not talk about 1993, Tipperary, Nicky English and THAT point

YouTube: HurlingGoals

17. After that Limerick defeat in 1994, you began to suspect that Biddy Early curse did indeed exist

16. But  you remember the glory 12 months later, when the curse was finally lifted

Pic: INPHO/Tom Honan

15. You know Eamonn Taaffe is entitled to a pint in every parish in the county after that goal in 1995

YouTube: hockeyhurlingshinty3

14. You still get emotional listening to Dalo’s speech about ‘whipping boys’ in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 1997

YouTube: hjmartin1

13. This picture from 1998 will always make you wonder what might have been

12. And of course you know everyone was against Clare that year

11. You regard these lads as the ‘three wise men’

Pic: INPHO/Tom Honan

10. You’d rather not talk about that Munster U21 final against Tipperary in Ennis in 2008

Pic: INPHO/John Kelly

9. You know there are youngsters in Clare who will never fear Kilkenny after recent All-Ireland U21 finals

2009

Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

2012

Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer

8. There have been tough senior days to endure since 1997

Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

7. But 2013 has helped restore your faith

Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

6. You have enjoyed the banter with Limerick lads you know since that game on August 12th

Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

5. You reckon Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney are surely the greatest U21 hurling managers of all time by now

Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

4. Before this summer you regarded Jamesie’s strike as the greatest point scored in Croke Park

Go to 0.43

YouTube: LovelyHurling Ire

3. But you’re not so sure now after Podge Collins did this a few weeks ago

YouTube: hockeyhurlingshinty4

2. You always knew Domhnall O’Donovan would get on the scoresheet some day

Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

1. And you can’t wait to see this man’s celebration if ye win on Saturday

Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer

Clare fans, have we missed any? Let us know in the comments section below.

Check out 19 signs that you’re a Cork hurling fan tomorrow on TheScore.ie

Clare win would kickstart golden era, says selector Louis Mulqueen

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