Cusack Park in Ennis doesn't host many Munster Championship games. In fact, the last game before yesterday was back in a visit from Kerry in 1997. In terms of a real contest, the last game was the defeat of Limerick back in 1993, an absolute age ago.
Given Clare's almost perennial presence in the Qualifiers since their inception, it's not an unheard of venue for most counties in the hurling championship, but yet, yesterday's game felt like a special occasion. This was the Munster Championship, and it was home.
Just under 14,000 Clare and Waterford fans were in attendance so capacity wasn't an issue. Neither was Clare's performance, as they put an impressive 2-27 in front of their home fans and getting their campaign back on track against an injury ravaged Waterford. A warm, cloudy, wind free day also meant condition were perfect for enjoying a game of hurling. Things couldn't have gone better for the return of Championship hurling to Ennis.
Clare have a great record at Cusack Park, though so rarely do they get to play big games there, it's a home advantage that hasn't borne much fruit over the years. A big crowd in a small venue made yesterday special. Thurles would have felt dead with that crowd.
The town was buzzing before the game in a way rarely seen. The pubs in the vicinity of the ground were overflowing in the hot weather, and there was an excitement in the air. Clare hurling was home. Waterford fans, many confused having not made the journey many times over the years, were given the nod by the locals as where to get a pint or a bit of grub before the game. Those going in for the minor match were told where the ground hides behind the busy streets. For once, Clare fans were playing the host.
Before yesterday, Clare and Waterford have met four times in the Munster Championship this decade. Each time the game was played in Thurles, and the average attendance was, remarkably, 14,000.
None of those games though, with the same number of people attending, had the sense of occasion yesterday had. Instead of playing in an almost two thirds empty stadium, yesterday's game was played in a great atmosphere and in close to a full house.
Not everything was perfect by any means.
The state of the toilet facilities for one thing, were not up to standard. I went into the toilet behind the main stand before the game was met a frankly disgusting smell. It was dark and dank. The urinal wall was clogged and ancient, the floor was ripped up. There was one sink splattering cold water. There was no soap.
There are money issues at the heart of all of this, as there always is, but a basic standard that it's hard to believe hasn't be rectified in the build up to such a big day.
Likewise, there were issues with season ticket holders being left confused and without a seat in the stand which left a sour taste.
A lot of confusion and anger over tickets in Cusack Park this afternoon. Patrons who thought general admission tickets would get them into the stand if they were here early are being told they have to make do with the terrace. Not going down well. #GAA
— Derrick Lynch (@DLynchSport) May 27, 2018
While these issues should not be overlooked, anyone in attendance in Ennis yesterday will have felt a part of something different.
We all want to go to games in full stadiums and Clare fans could certainly do with a few less trips to Thurles. You want to cheer your team on in your own ground, have a home advantage, outnumber opposition fans. The Munster Championship has always been special, but that's an aspect that has been missing.
The flow of games, and the home and away format have already made the round robin, of which so many were skeptical, a huge success. It remains to be seen how the condensed fixture list will affect but the rest of the Championship, but so far, so good.
Let's just hope Waterford fans don't have to wait too long to experience what every other fan in the country can.
