Clare's Ollie Baker is back in the frame for Sunday's league semi-final against Kilkenny. Although team manager Cyril Lyons did not use him for the team's marauding show against Limerick, Baker, who displayed vintage form against Offaly, will be back at the coalface next weekend.
"Ollie is in good shape again," said Lyons. "It has to be remembered that the amount of hurling he saw, along with James O'Connor and Sean McMahon, was phenomenal. Two and a half years flat out with Sixmilebridge and Clare. It was remarkable they survived it and Ollie now is showing the benefits of a rest."
Baker's rejuvenation mirrors that of his team. Clare's league form this year is in stark contrast to last year when they limped home after a campaign characterised by a lethargy that clearly concerned Ger Loughnane, their manager then.
Their subsequent fall against Tipperary in the Munster championship semi-final was indicative of the exhaustive adventure they had embarked on since 1995.
There were predictions that many of the illustrious names would depart the scene, but under Lyons the skeleton of that side remains, with a number of new names coming through. They closed out the league looking remarkably fresh against Offaly and Limerick.
"I think the timing of the games, delayed through foot-and-mouth, gave them an extra meaning. Those matches were originally scheduled for early March, which is a different ball game. Now we are thinking of the championship in terms of weeks, so it is brilliant to be getting competitive games," said Lyons.
Match sharpness is what the manager sought from this year's league. Referring to Tipperary's championship win against Clare last year, he noted that Nicky English's side had advanced to the league play-offs and played a championship game before facing Clare.
"And they obviously benefited from that. Circumstances were different for Clare last year; the team was coming to an end of a gruelling few years. But having gone after one championship game, we felt we could use the games this year."
Many of the regular first team responded to the break and are returning to the fold rejuvenated. Anthony Daly got a run against Limerick last Thursday evening, a sight which inspired a tremendous shout from the visiting support.
But Lyons has also used the campaign to revitalise the side with up and coming players such as Gearoid Considine and Tony Carmody. Considine has caught the eye after enduring a tough rehabilitation programme last year, when he underwent an operation on his cruciate ligament.
Galway football manager John O'Mahony is awaiting word on a number of players who picked up injuries over the weekend. John Divilly retired during the league semi-final win against Sligo and awaits the results of X-rays while Joe Bergin picked up a groin strain.
"John, apparently, suffered a dislocation which rectified itself but he was holding his arm very gingerly on Saturday evening. We haven't ruled him out. The nature of Joe's injury potentially leaves his situation tighter in terms of the final."
In a league final between Killerin and Corofin, captain Padraig Joyce, Kieran Fitzgerald and Michael Comer also picked up various knocks and it remains to be seen if they will train this evening. Galway will select a team on Thursday evening and O'Mahony allows that he is looking forward to the game.
"We have treated the league with respect all season and will take the same attitude to the final. It has been pleasing that we bounced back from an All-Ireland final loss; blooded new players in the league and ended up competing for the title. The flip-side is that you are on show a little bit more than you would like quite close to the championship but that is unavoidable."
Mayo are hoping to select a side this evening. Much interest will centre on Crossmolina's Kieran McDonald, who has yet to play a part in the league due to his club's championship run. He has, however, participated in a number of training sessions under Pat Holmes.
