Conor Gleeson (Tipperary captain)

Age: 24. Height: 6' 3". Weight: 14st 3lbs. Club: Boherlahan-Dualla. Honours: Ryan Cup (C arlow RTC) 1992, Fitzgibbon Cup final (Garda College) 1997. Championship Debut: v Waterford 1996 (as sub); v Limerick 1997.

Appearances 1997: Four. Substituted 1997: v Clare (53 mins, playing wing back). Scored 1997: 0-1 (v Wexford).

Conceded 1997: 0-1 (v Limerick, at wing back); 0-2 (v Clare, at wing back); 02 (v Down, at centrefield).

Reaction To The Season? "People might say we've been lucky, but I don't agree; we just took our chances."

Most Memorable Match This Season? "Wexford. We knew we could play better on the day. It would be everyone's wish to beat the champions and reach an All-Ireland final, but it only really hits you afterwards."

Most Difficult? "The Clare match. We went well in League and played very well against Limerick. But we relaxed after that. Even the subs assumed that the same team would be going out in the Munster final. We'd been preparing for Limerick since October. Even if we had been firing on all cylinders, they might have beaten us anyway."

Best Of The Rest? "Wexford were All-Ireland champions and it takes a great team to get back as far as the last four the following year. Maybe their big names let them down (in the semi-final), but everyone has an off-day. The margin flattered us."

League And Championship Reforms? "The League was a great success, although it could be better if it was over before the championship. We benefit from the championship changes, but everyone knew the rules from the start. It's been a move for the better, but maybe not quite in this form."

Inside View: Len Gaynor (Tipperary manager) - "He was playing well at centre-back and then he got injured and we had to replace him with Colm Bonnar who played really well. We then put Conor on the wing, but he wasn't comfortable there. We thought he'd have more room and scope at centrefield. His height and power are assets and he has a good, long stride."

Outside View: Rory Kinsella (Wexford manager) - "He was very impressive against us. Considering he had taken the plaster off his arm that week, he showed incredible determination in playing at all. It was the first time that Wexford didn't get the upper hand in the area. In fact we were beaten."

Ollie Baker (Clare)

Age: 23. Height: 6' 3". Weight: 14st. CLUB: St Joseph's-Doora Barefield. Honours: All-Ireland SHC 1995, Munster SHC 1995 and '97. Fitzgibbon Cup final 1997 (Garda College). Championship Debut: v Cork 1995.

Appearances 1997: Three (Cork, Tipperary, Kilkenny. Substituted 1997: v Kilkenny (58 mins).

Scored 1997: Nil.

Conceded 1997: 0-1 (v Kilkenny).

Reaction To The Season? "Pretty good for Clare. I've played my part and it's nice to be part of a winning team, particularly after not playing so well in the League. I always felt capable of doing it, but it was just a matter of settling."

Most Memorable Match This Season? "Against Cork. It was probably the best game of hurling I've ever been involved in my life. It was real end-to-end stuff and hardly any frees and nearly every attack ended in a score."

Most Difficult? "Being taken off against Kilkenny. It's something every player doesn't want. I was playing badly and I'd missed a couple of balls early in the second half. I was disappointed though."

Best Of The Rest? "I thought Wexford's second-half performance against Kilkenny was very good. It would have been very hard for any team in the country to live with them on that performance."

League And Championship Reforms? "I think it's been an awful disaster for the League with the Tipperary team not putting out a full team for the semi-final - although I suppose no other county would have done different - but it was bad fixture planning. The early part (of the League) had a great championship feel and the spectators saw some great hurling. If they finished the League before the championship, it would be all right. Personally, I wouldn't agree with the championship changes. The rule is there and you have to live with it."

Inside View: Ger Loughnane (Clare manager) - "I'd say 95 per cent of people didn't expect him to be on the team for the Cork match and on the day, he produced a good display. In the Munster final, he produced a really good display. He was poor against Kilkenny, but having said that, it was when he went off the field that we lost our shape. His very presence is of huge importance."

Outside View: Jimmy Barry Murphy (Cork manager) - "He finished very strongly against us and hadn't been going well up to the game. It was an area where we thought we'd be on top. But he has sheer physical strength and works his way into matches even if they're not going well. He's the sort of player Ger Loughnane likes - he's got what it takes at championship level."