John Conlon has made no secret of his desire to add a Munster SHC medal to his collection.

The long-serving Clonlara colossus has twice savoured All-Ireland glory with Clare, but is still awaiting his first provincial medal. Since their last Munster SHC triumph in 1998, the Banner have lost seven finals, including the last three to Limerick.

"A Munster medal matters to everyone that plays hurling in Munster,” he acknowledged at the launch of the 'eir for all’ Poc Tapa Challenge.

“Since I was a young lad, the two days you loved were a Munster final and an All-Ireland final. We have had a few good opportunities to get over the line (in Munster) and we just didn’t.

"We haven’t won it in a long time. It would be a massive medal to win this year, but if you are given the option of a Munster or All-Ireland, you are picking an All-Ireland every day."

The All-Ireland champions open their Munster SHC campaign in Ennis tomorrow against an in-form Cork side who hit them for 6-20 at the same venue last month.

"They came at it with massive intensity and firepower, and we didn’t. If we come at it with the same application in terms of defending, we are in for another big hammering. That is the challenge ahead, but all teams aren’t really sure where they are.

"You won’t know until the first round of the championship where you really lie,” Conlon added.

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