The year's best Niall Gilligan moment to date came in Thurles two months ago. His club Sixmilebridge were trailing Graigue-Ballycallan by two points in the All-Ireland club semi-final when he took a ball in the corner, scooted in along the endline and gave his side the lead with a dramatic goal.

Graigue-Ballycallan's manager Jim Neary remembers the moment as well you'd imagine he might. "I was beside him when he got the ball on the line. He was like a tank gathering momentum, pounding along. Johnny (Ronan, Graigue goalkeeper) came out and there was only a small angle but as he thundered along he picked his spot. I took off my hat to him. He had the presence of mind to win that ball and take the chance just when they needed a goal."

Ultimately Sixmilebridge went down in a replay but despite being outplayed, they nearly filched the win with the second last puck of the match. The penalty that was hit just over the bar was again the work of Gilligan who won the ball in the air and with a deft pass, sent Robert Conlon through on goal where he was fouled.

"He has this gallop," says Neary, "and is great to lay off a ball. He's a quiet presence, working and popping up in spots where he's needed. We thought he was totally left but we discovered he could do it on either side."

It's not as if Gilligan had no profile before this year's club championship. He announced himself as a substitute in the 1996 club final, coming on against Dunloy and scoring three points in the 'Bridge's All-Ireland victory. A year later he was back for the county, smuggled into the starting 15 - in place of Fergal Hegarty - for the All-Ireland against Tipperary for fear that a conventional call-up would create intolerable pressure.

His performance that day gave that year's All Star corner back Paul Shelly his least comfortable moments of the summer. Three points flew over from that corner to add to the excellent impression made in the semi-final against Kilkenny when he combined some impressive playmaking at centre forward with time in the corner making life awkward for Willie O'Connor.

Popular on the pitch and popular amongst the imposing figures who populated the Clare dressing room, Gilligan became known as something of a character even at the age of 19. All-Ireland captain Anthony Daly summed up the newcomer's deadpan diffidence in a 1998 interview.

"Inside at training Loughnane would be roaring, getting everyone's blood up and Gilligan would be inside talking to the corner-back with his arms folded. Then the ball comes in, he burns the corner-back and puts the ball in the net, cool as you like. You'd be talking to him then afterwards. `2-2 tonight Gilly?' `Ah sure, lucky enough, the ball bounced for me'. And the big innocent head on him letting on to be an eejit when you know he'd buy and sell ya."

"His form has been unbelievable for us," says Sixmilebridge manager Paddy Meehan of Gilligan's club campaign. "He's been very sharp and the main reason why we got as far as we did. He's done a lot of gym work with Clare and is very strong. I remember him when he was 4 ft 8 in, he was 17 before he got big. Now he's very hard to push off a ball, particularly good-quality, low ball. He's always been good at taking long-range points but now he's getting goals more regularly than he used to."

That point was borne out by Gilligan's return to the inter-county scene last week. In the comprehensive defeat of Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds, he played a relaxed sort of game but ended up with 2-2. Clare selector and St Joseph's Doora-Barefield coach Louis Mulqueen explains the difference.

"In the past he's played further out, by which I mean the corner. Remember how he cut in for a super goal against Galway two years ago? At full forward he's closer to goal when he gets possession and can find himself one-on-one. He's like a fella who paces himself. Looking at him, you don't see his speed and he has great hands to collect the ball.

"Niall has always been a potential talent and two years ago, he really arrived as an All Star. As a result last year he was a marked man and struggled with a few things. He was also setting up his own auctioneering business in Sixmilebridge. But he came very good for the 'Bridge in the club championship. He's just back after the long club campaign - but we're used to that with the St Joseph's players - and looks very solid, very fresh and mad for hurling."

Opinions vary on his best position. Sixmilebridge's epic semi-final with Graigue-Ballycallan provides a neat summary of the dilemma. A scoring menace near goal, Gilligan can't do much if his supply of ball is curtailed - something Graigue successfully implemented. He can win his own ball if he comes out and has become an accomplished free taker but the goal-scoring threat is obviously diminished. Clare prefer him on the inside but the club differs.

"I'd say his best position is in the half forwards. I think he finds it confined playing in the full forwards. He loves being on the ball and it helps him to be moved around."

With good inter-county credentials to his name and an outstanding club season behind him, Gilligan is now a senior player in a Clare side under new management and with new faces coming into the side. How he progresses from juvenile lead will have a major influence on the county's season, the countdown to which begins tomorrow afternoon in Thurles.

"This is a make-or-break year for Niall," says Mulqueen. "He should be approaching his peak over the next year or two and getting over the burden of being a marked man. This year he is more mature and willing to take on more responsibility. Remember a forward in Clare who is scoring gets cult status pretty quickly."