And just like that, the round robin phase of the Championship will be over come Sunday evening.
From the off in 2018, I was a fan of this format and really enjoyed playing in it. There may be a certain amount of bias towards it on my part as we went on to win the All-Ireland at the end of that first season but it was a hurling bonanza and has picked up where it has left off after the pandemic truncated the 2020 and ‘21 seasons.
But, while I love the structure, the round robin phase goes by in a blur; it’s just over too quickly. I believe it should be spread out a little more.
Last weekend was sensational and I have no doubt we’ll have more of the same but it’ll be all over in a flash.
And it will likely be all over for one of Limerick and Cork come Sunday evening too.
I predicted from the outset that Cork wouldn’t come out of Munster and if they give Diarmaid Byrnes or Kyle Hayes the same liberty that was afforded to Diarmuid Ryan in Ennis last Sunday, they can forget about it.
Again, I go back to the perennial question about Cork - can they bring their work rate up to the levels required? I didn’t see that against Clare, they couldn’t force enough turnovers and why should we expect that they’ll suddenly turn it on this weekend?
In spite of all that, they still came close to beating Clare in their own back yard and they’ve drawn with the form team of the year in Tipperary, so can they come to Limerick and turn over the All-Ireland champions?
If the game becomes a shootout, Cork will revel in it. They have quality hurlers, ferocious pace and if they are allowed to turn on the after-burners they could inflict serious damage.
Having been in Thurles last Sunday, I couldn’t help but notice the physicality and work rate from Tipp.
Maybe Limerick and Cork will be a little off it physically this weekend as a result of those high-octane encounters last Sunday and given that Limerick trade more on their power, that would favour Cork.
John Kiely and Pat Ryan will have thought long and hard around team selection in particular this week.
Kiely faces a choice between sticking with his tried and trusted who aren’t performing well at present or freshening things up now with Limerick’s season on the line.
Does Ryan throw Shane Kingston and Tim O’Mahony in from the start or introduce them in the second half when the game is up for grabs?
The trouble with the latter policy from Cork’s point of view is that their last two Championship meetings with Limerick were over at half-time. So does he go flat out from the off or take a chance? The two lads have been named to start, which suggests that he's plumped for the former.
These decisions could make or break either team’s summer and I wouldn’t like to be in either manager’s shoes this week.
Tipp should be wary of Waterford
I could be made to look foolish come Sunday evening, but Waterford are a banana skin for Tipperary.
I just get the feeling that it won’t be straightforward for Tipp after playing in such a huge game last Sunday, with a full house in Thurles against the three-in-a-row All-Ireland champions, to now facing a Waterford side that is already eliminated in front of half the crowd, if even.
Waterford have nothing to lose, Tipp have a Munster final at stake. Of course, Waterford could just turn up in fixture-fulfilment mode on Sunday.
Have they trained? What has gone on behind the scenes? But there is zero pressure on them which means that they can play with the shackles off.
We could see them play in a style so different to what they have been doing this year. They have come in for some abuse in recent weeks. Surely the players are going to want to put pride back in that jersey?
Then again, you would have said the same against Clare. It’s one that Tipp need to be wary of and no doubt Liam Cahill’s only job this week has been to steel their minds. Once the heads are right, the rest should follow.
Wexford on the brink
Surely Wexford won’t end up in the Joe McDonagh Cup next year?
Well, the thing is, it’s more likely to happen than not.
I give them zero chance of taking Kilkenny down in Nowlan Park. I wouldn’t fancy them with a full team. They have been so bad all year, why would they just turn it on now?
Their confidence has to be in their boots at this stage. Kilkenny won’t take it any bit easy on them either.
I have to say, I don’t want to see them relegated. We need Wexford, we need Waterford, and we need a few more also. This would do no good for Wexford, no good for the game but, if it happens, they have to deal with it.
There is no point in them looking over their shoulder hoping Westmeath beat Antrim to keep them alive. They have one chance now to save, not just this season, but next season also.
The character of that group will be revealed on Sunday because if they are going to be beaten, they would want to be carried off the field afterwards having emptied themselves.
Offaly set to return to top tier
There'll be bigger crowds elsewhere but tomorrow’s Joe McDonagh Cup final between Offaly and Carlow is a huge game for both counties.
On all known evidence and form, it’s hard to see anything but an Offaly win. They are a county that is coming, and while they would of course want to win the All-Ireland under-20, this is a massive one.
The winner will likely play Dublin in a preliminary quarter-final with the loser probably facing Limerick or Cork, which would be a great learning experience for both and would show them where the bar is at.
Carlow don’t command the same profile as Offaly but at times you have to create the narrative yourself and ensure that people can’t but talk about your county in a positive way.
And the only way to do that is to upset the odds tomorrow evening.
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