Hurling: Ian O'Riordan talks to James O'Connor, a player who almost retired after last year's championship.

Having officially crossed the line between league and championship, the Waterford hurlers turn their attention to Clare. Freshly inspired and well rested, and probably the last team you'd want to play the week after losing a league final. Clare are on the rise again, bubbling with enthusiasm, a mood exemplified by a certain James O'Connor.

Tomorrow night will see Clare manager Anthony Daly announce his team for Sunday's clash in Thurles. O'Connor is not certain of his place in the forward line - partly because of a recent finger injury that required six stitches - but that he's being considered at all is the real story.

After last year's campaign O'Connor had only one thought on his mind - retirement.

"I just had no interest," he says. "Playing crap. Not wanting to be there. We'd had a disastrous club campaign as well. So I was very negative about the whole thing, and really questioned whether or not I still had the appetite. And whether I was good enough. And I honestly thought it was time to walk away."

Passing the age of 30 didn't help, and a wife and two kids don't leave much time for reflective hurling. But the St Joseph's Doora-Barefield player just needed a little convincing. Ask him what provided it and he raises a smile.

"Sure when Anthony Daly is at the other end of the phone it's hard to say no. I mean we've so much respect for him. It's still a little harder to get motivated with the family commitments but you know as well you'll be on the outside looking in for long enough. And I knew there's only one place I'd rather be on the May 16th. And it isn't in the stands."

Part of the deal was that O'Connor could take a break until January. He played some soccer over the winter, but generally took it easy, recharging the soul and the batteries.

"One night then I met Brian Lohan in town, and he was full of praise for the way things were going. Other lads who'd gone back training were also saying how well it was going. And that the set-up was very good. And I've really enjoyed it since I've come back."

O'Connor's transition from Clare's young and hungry forward to mature and experienced figure is now almost complete. His teaching job at St Flannan's keeps him in touch with his roots and he still dresses casually in Tommy Hilfiger shirts but that all-embracing verve has run a little empty.

He knows he couldn't have got through another winter of physical torture and pays tribute to the fresh approach introduced by new trainer Johnnie Glynn.

"He seems to have got us fit without the mental tiredness. And I just don't know if my legs would have benefited from another winter of hard slog. What we do now is much more speed based, and I certainly feel my own pace and sharpness has benefited an awful lot."

After that it was Daly's natural leadership that took over: "I do think the thing had gone a bit stale towards the end of last year. And if anyone could have raised the spirits and got us going again it was Anthony. And even if you look at our league I think it's quite clear he has given the thing a big lift."

O'Connor also needs to take one quick glance around him to know a starting place for Sunday won't be easily found. David Forde and Alan Markham have found new legs and Colin Lynch is well settled at centre forward. Niall Gilligan is flying and Frank Lohan has become a whole new option. Tony Griffin is more than up to it and Tony Carmody is back in contention too.

"Sure there are eight or nine names there," he says, "and only six jerseys. I know I'm guaranteed nothing. But that's just a reflection of how things are going. It's very healthy.

"But we know it's a very tough route to the Munster title. Sure it couldn't have got any harder. If we get past Waterford it's Tipperary, who we know will be sitting and waiting for us after last year. And it's looking like Cork in the Munster final."

Clare themselves came within a whisker of making the league final. That gave them reason to believe they could have been playing league and championship within a week just as Waterford must now do.

It's a task O'Connor says is easily separated.

"We know Waterford have trained every bit as hard as we have. And they're not coming out on Sunday to lose.

"The league final has no bearing because I know the 16th of May has been etched on their minds since they first came back training.

"And Waterford are a seriously good side. The league form was still excellent, so we'll be very, very wary of them on Sunday. We know we can't look beyond them. They'll be feeling as much as anyone now that they are a team that haven't maximised their potential."