Shane O'Donnell is looking forward to the latest installment of Clare-Wexford rivalry.
The 2013 All-Ireland SHC final replay hat-trick hero missed last year's dramatic All-Ireland Round 1 qualifier due to a concussion injury which threatened to end his hurling career.
The counties renew their rivalry in next Saturday's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final at FBD Semple Stadium and speaking to gaa.ie after receiving the PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Month Award for May, the rejuvenated Eire Óg clubman said: "It's like playing Limerick or it's like playing a game like that, where we're very familiar with each other.
"We played each other a lot at different stages over the last 10 years. We've won and lost to each other so it's less a grudge match and more like a real, true rivalry I think."
O'Donnell admits he couldn't even bring himself to watch last year's game - which the Banner won by 2-25 to 2-22 - on television.
"I think I was listening to it on the radio," he remembered.
"I wouldn't have been able to watch it on a screen, it would have been too, I'm not sure if emotive is the word, but it would have got my heart-rate going too much to go to the actual game so my option was listen to it in the car. That was kind of all I was left with really.
"It wasn't really a conscious decision between different options, it was kind of what I was able for."
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