The old phrase "lose one to win one" couldn't have been more apt for West Clare Gaels after their win over St conelth's.

There is no doubt that the fact they lost the 2007 Junior decider had a marked influence on their approach to the intermediate All Ireland.

The experience gained from playing at the top level as well as competing in finals cannot be bought.

West Clare Gaels used their older more experienced players to show the younger members how to prepare and focus for an All ireland final with the best possible result.

Declan Kidney has put his faith in almost the same side which came up short against South Africa for tomorow's test against the All Blacks.

In fairness to Kidney,like his predecessor he isn't a man to hugely change things in terms of team's starting XV's but to expect to beat the All Blacks tomorrow is a big task.

Ireland have failed to function at either the lineout or the breakdown over the past number of weeks and a stronger and more astute team than Samoa should have beaten Ireland comfortably last week.

Even though its November some clubs and sportspeople are preparing for All ireland deciders.

Indeed we are lucky here in Clare to have two All Ireland finals as well as a Munster decider to look forward to over the coming weeks.

West Clare Gaels are up first this Sunday as they bid to atone for their 2007 defeat in the junior final.

The Clare and Munster champions are no doubt stronger and more tuned in this year as they have readily admitted that their preparation in 2007 was clouded by the excitement at being in an All Ireland final.

What a way to win the cup.

Sligo will celebrate long into the week after they overcame the big boys of the league Shamrock Rovers!

Who cares if they did it on penos?

Certainley their fans won't and their goalkeeper Kieran Kelly will be a hero and a name for many years to come to be sung around the North west club's pubs and clubs!

Peno's is an awful way to win-but who cares once you win?

Coming up on this evenings Sideline View we hear from Waterford hurler Dan Shanahan as he speaks about his new book.
 
We hear from three of the top gaa stars of the last decade who were in Clare earlier this week,Mickey Harte,Brendan Cummins and Donal Og Cusack
 

The blazers in the IRFU will be hoping the P.R exercise they went on in the wake of the embarassing scenes in the Aviva aren't repeated this weekend when Samoa are in town.

To have so many empty spaces was not only commented on by supporters but also by the players themselves,almost all who would be used to playing in front of huge crows week in week out with their clubs in South Africa's case of  or their provinces in relation to the Irish players.

The old saying of form being temporary and class permanent was never more apt then at Anfield yesterday as Fernando Torres single handedly beat Chelsea and most certainley kept the speculation over Roy Hodgenson's future at bay for at least a few weeks.

The World cup winner had not sparkled this seaosn in Red but yesterday was once again back to his best.

Commentators could now say that Liverpool were now firing on two cylinders but that would be to deny that Lucas as well as Reina also put in impressive shifts yesterday.

Clare could not have asked for a harder test in next year's Munster championship with a home tie against Cork in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

However the May 22nd meeting could offer Clare a glimmer of hope as we have seen that teams can be ring rusty in their opening games of a new season!

It would be foolish to predict a Clare win at this stage before a ball has been kicked but there can be no doubt that with a good national league campign behind Clare with promotion quite possibly secured then Clare could very much rattle the champions.