Munster SHC Group Stage Round Five (SUNDAY, 4pm)
Limerick v Waterford (TUS Gaelic Grounds)
Tipperary v Clare (FBD Semple Stadium)
How a year changes things. A one-point defeat to Limerick, a two-point victory over Limerick.
Swings and roundabouts. A puck of a ball. Cork in the doldrums. Cork on top of the world.
This weekend, The Rebels have the uncomfortable task of couch potato. The most likely fixture for them is Limerick once more, but this time in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
An unlikely meeting with Waterford would mean Thurles once more, and the same FBD Semple Stadium that was awash with red last weekend.
That’s the best case scenario. The Munster Hurling Championship doesn’t do sympathy. An early defeat to Waterford will not be forgiven.
Consequently, Clare look to be in pole position, with a trip to misfiring Tipp’ on their immediate radar. A draw would guarantee a Munster final place, as would a point for Limerick against Waterford.
Davy Fitzgerald allowed frustration to get the better of him last weekend. Maybe it passed through his mind that a win over Limerick is all that would suffice after Mark Rodgers’ ‘65 saw them pipped at the post.
Shane Bennett’s 1-2 off the bench means he has been reinstated as The Déise’s sole change. Despite Fitzgerald’s actions, he will be on the sidelines, something John Mullane stated as key in “embracing the challenge”.
John Kiely is still without the services of Darragh O’Donovan, while Seán Finn’s injury against Cork sees him miss out too. Squeaky bum time in the drive-for-five.
For Clare, it will take an almighty display of pride from Tipperary to deny them back-to-back provincial final appearances.
Back in March, The Banner actually entered the league semi-final as underdogs before winning by a handsome eight points. They aren’t afforded the luxury of being written off this time.
The Premier’s 18-point home defeat to Cork last weekend was borderline embarrassing. Perhaps the manner in which their home support was outnumbered said it all.
They have nothing to lose, and will be desperate to salvage some pride out of what has become a miserable campaign. Those factors combine to make them dangerous, and you don’t become a bad team overnight.
That said, Clare should prevail, and it takes a brave man to write off Limerick.
Should those two come good, Thurles would be the venue for a repeat of last year’s decider on 9 May.
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LEINSTER SHC ROUND FIVE (2pm)
Kilkenny v Wexford (UPMC Nowlan Park, live on GAAGO)
Galway v Dublin (Pearse Stadium, live on RTÉ2)
Antrim v Carlow (Corrigan Park)
Leinster folk must look at the Munster Championship as the favoured sibling, the golden child.
In fairness, it wouldn’t be hard to play second fiddle, but the men from the east have put up quite a fight in 2024.
There’s been three draws along the way, while only a point separates Kilkenny in first and Galway in fourth. A great Championship is one littered with inconsistency. Sure enough, Wexford lie in the middle of it all.
They seem to have put defeat in Corrigan Park behind them. This weekend will be a true test of their credentials. Kilkenny don’t lose many games, even less so when they have to win.
A draw would be enough for a place in the provincial showpiece, but for Wexford it’s must-win territory (unless both Kilkenny-Wexford and Galway-Dublin end in draws).
Galway will be glad of home advantage as Micháel Donoghue returns to his old stomping ground of Salthill donned in blue once more.
But the heat will be on the home side and Henry Shefflin. Defeat would mean elimination from the Championship. It’s an unsavoury prospect.
Nonetheless it’s reality, one which Dublin could possibly escape in defeat - courtesy of score difference - should Wexford be beaten in UPMC Nowlan Park.
Even that would mean the preliminary All-Ireland quarters. One would expect both teams to go hell for leather, with Shefflin’s job arguably on the line.
The relegation decider between Carlow and Antrim is what everyone expected, but both have shown signs that they are more than capable of competing.
Last year’s Joe McDonagh Cup champions make the journey to Corrigan Park, where only a win will save them from a swift return to the second tier.
A draw for Antrim would secure Leinster Championship hurling for 2025.