WE REALLY MUST FINALLY WIN IT

Clare ace Kelly targets the elusive Munster crown

- PAT NOLAN

TONY KELLY has declared that Clare simply have to win the Munster title after reaching their fourth final in seven seasons.

It's the only major honour, either individual or collective, that the Ballyea man doesn't have from his Clare career having picked up All-Ireland and League medals, Hurler of the Year, Young Hurler of the Year and All Star awards by the time he was 22.

But defeat has been his lot in the three Munster finals he has played in in 2017, 2018 and 2022, with Clare having lost five in all since their last provincial title in 1998. It's a run that Kelly insists must be halted come June 11.

He said: "It is our fourth one getting to. We were beaten in our last three.

"There are a lot of lads in that dressing room who weren't even born the last time we won Munster. It is definitely on our checklist every year.

"As I said, we haven't been able to win it the last three goes of it. It is all about learning. We are in the exact same spot as last year. No better off. No worse.

"We have to bring it home this time. Simple as that. We have three weeks the way the schedule has worked out, which is favourable. All our groups games are played, there is another round next week while we're off.