All-Ireland medal won't define my career - Horgan

Horgan (704) is just two points behind Kilkenny great TJ Reid (706) in the list of championship hurling's highest scorers

All-Ireland Hurling Final - Clare v Cork

Date: Sunday, 21 July Throw-in: 15:30 BST Venue: Croke Park, Dublin

Coverage: Watch on BBC Two, BBC Two Northern Ireland, BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website & app; live text commentary, report, reaction & highlights on BBC Sport website & app

Talismanic Cork forward Patrick Horgan insists his career will not be defined by whether or not he becomes an All-Ireland winner as he prepares to face Clare in Sunday's final at Croke Park.

With over 700 championship points scored, three Munster titles and four All-Stars, Horgan is widely regarded as one of the finest players of his generation.

He has, however, never tasted success on hurling's biggest day, losing All-Ireland finals with Cork in 2013 and 2021.

But Horgan insists that while having a Celtic Cross medal is a "big deal", he is driven by his love of hurling, not the prospect of adding to his trophy cabinet.

"I've always said this, that it's just a thing to have," said the Glen Rovers club-man.

"But it's not why I do it, definitely. I love playing hurling and I love playing with this group of players. I get on really well with them all.

"After the semi-final the final, the prize wasn't the final. For me, it was like 'we're training Tuesday night and that's really important'. To our group it is important."

While up to now he has known nothing but pain on All-Ireland final day, Horgan has already banked some special memories with the Rebels, with provincial triumphs in 2014, 2017 and 2018.

"An All-Ireland final or medal, it's one day. If I look back over, how many years I play with Cork, I've a lot more than one day to look back at and be happy about.

"I'm delighted and I've enjoyed every minute of playing hurling. It's a big deal obviously and I'd love to, but at the end of it all, it's just a day and we'll just get on with it afterwards."

He added: "Having a medal, it means a lot but when you look back, it won't be just the day. You'll always remember it, but there are other days too."

'We've gotten better since April'

Cork are the second most successful team in All-Ireland history, behind only Kilkenny, but the last of their 30 Liam MacCarthy titles came back in 2005.

It is an unprecedented drought for Pat Ryan's side, and while they underlined their credentials in stunning fashion with not one but two wins over the mighty Limerick (in the Munster round-robin and All-Ireland semi-final), they have lost their past three championship meetings with Clare.

Clare also ran out winners in the 2013 final, prevailing 5-16 to 3-16 in an enthralling final replay after the first game finished in a draw.

Their most recent encounter ended with Clare celebrating a pulsating 3-26 to 3-24 win at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in April, but Banner boss Brian Lohan was coy on whether that result gives his side a psychological advantage.

"Since then [the game in April], we think we've gotten better even though we did play well," said Lohan.

"Cork have certainly got better. You could look at it both ways, whether it's to our benefit or their benefit. Look, we're delighted where we are and Cork are delighted where they are."