All-Ireland SHC Quarter-final replay: Selector Fr Harry Bohan tells Gavin Cummiskey he believes the older Clare players are now hitting their prime

Clare's old guard should be finished by now. Waterford's annihilation of them back in May was supposed to have seen to that. It was the day none of the great players could produce performances to match the likes Dan Shanahan, John Mullane and Ken McGrath. After giving so many years of wondrous hurling they finally looked spent. Just like the punch-drunk boxer who has fought on for too long.

Even the return of Anthony Daly looked like a mistake. Many legendary players have failed to make the conversion from the field to the line. Daly looked set to become just another statistic.

"For the first couple of weeks after the Waterford match our confidence was totally shattered," said team mentor Fr Harry Bohan. "We had had a very good run in the league and the blend of older and younger lads seemed to be working.

"Also, the other guys in the team like Niall Gilligan, David Hoey and Tony Griffin seemed to be reaching their peak. But it wasn't just the older guys who didn't deliver, the younger lads were caught out just as bad."

The flat display against Waterford convinced everybody outside the confines of the Clare panel that a dynasty was coming to an end.

Then there was silence.

Licking their wounds, Clare slowly regrouped. Something clearly began to stir in the deep. The pride that carried so many of these players to All-Ireland titles was tapped into once more. Having their former on-field leader talking to them each night must have helped.

"A lot of people began to doubt but the players have a huge respect for Anthony Daly," continued Bohan. "He even said he doubted himself at one stage but I don't have to remind you that he was a top-class captain. Even in his playing days he would keep the players together and all during that period (after Waterford) his role was to keep them together."

Before the hurling headstones of men like James O'Connor and Sean McMahon were erected, Clare went out and destroyed Laois before overwhelming Offaly.

Despite pushing Wexford hard in the Leinster final, Offaly were no match for Daly's men, who played like they were supposed to play from the start of the championship. Also, Gilligan and Griffin started to prove they actually were in their prime.

"The Offaly match did an awful lot of good. After seeing the Waterford match they obviously underestimated us," said Bohan.

The question then was how they would respond to the toughest exam of all: Kilkenny. The answer put a smile on the faces of hurling enthusiasts everywhere. In the final furlong it was O'Connor who ensured a second airing was necessary in Thurles tomorrow.

Bohan simply cannot overstate O'Connor's value to the side and also contradicts the idea that the senior players are on their last legs.

"None of them have given any indication that they are going to depart. They have a lot of hurling in them but they are not that old. Super players who give a super example. The younger players in our panel are lucky to play with these guys.

"Jamesie has been going well in training of late. It's a cliche but Jamesie owes Clare hurling nothing."

True, but he will still - at some stage tomorrow - be asked for another generous contribution to the cause.

"Kilkenny will come out with all guns blazing. They were never going to get the level of intensity of the Galway match two games in a row but they might be able to produce it again now. Although the game was no harm for us as well."