Tipp need to retain keen edge to lower the Banner
CLARE v TIPPERARY
Cusack Park, Ennis
Sunday 2nd June
Throw-in @ 4.00pm
Referee: Alan Kelly (Galway)
Cusack Park in Ennis will be heaving on Sunday as Clare and Tipperary lock horns in round 3 of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship.
All 18,000 tickets have been snapped but with Tipperary clubs able to get their hands on an extra 1,500 or so over the last week to try and ensure Premier County fans are well represented at a venue where every voice will be necessary to help Liam Sheedy's charges get the result to all but confirm their passage to the next stage, and possibly a Munster Final appearance.
With four points safely on the board following the wins over Cork and Waterford, it should provide Tipperary the opportunity with having a free swing in Ennis, one of the more difficult away venues in the country.
However, Tipperary wouldn't want to be too loose as they still will want to get their passage to the next stage booked as early as possible and not take it down to the final game against All Ireland champions Limerick.
All the indicators so far suggest that we'll get a focused Tipperary heading to Ennis on Sunday and that the management will see a win over Clare in their back-yard as being a huge fill-up towards the rest of the year, and possibly setting back a major rival in the process as the Banner men still have Limerick and a rejuvenated Cork to face yet.
Plus there's the motivation of last years defeat where Clare got the rub of the green in the final ten minutes to come from behind and end Tipperary's championship hopes.