Munster SHC: All five teams with reason to be pleased after opening round
Tipperary’s Jake Morris celebrates against Limerick. Picture: ©INPHO/James Crombie
Opening round of action complete – no winners. Two draws, four points apiece, with Waterford poised and ready yet to play a game.
The Munster Senior Hurling Championship is like no other. The competition this year is the strongest it has been in quite some time. Every one of the five teams would have fancied their chances of making a Munster final.
That confidence will remain after the first round of action, with everyone still unbeaten.
Cork and Pat Ryan will be under no illusions of the challenge that lays ahead this weekend. That was always going to be the case, win or loss in Ennis; win or loss for Tipp in Thurles.
But the fact Tipperary were able to hold Limerick to a draw on home turf has to be a statement not just to the rest of Munster – but to Leinster too.
Their league form carried weight. They may have faltered against Cork in the final but they proved beyond doubt on Sunday that the league decider was merely a blip; a lesson that they’ve quickly learned from.
John McGrath and Jake Morris brought the experience. Darragh McCarthy brought his league form. Even with Jason Forde having had a tough day, you can be sure he’ll bounce back.
This Tipperary team are rejuvenated. Liam Cahill has done a stellar job to make them so competitive so quickly.
Cork were favourites, Clare were underdogs. Unjustifiably, Brian Lohan’s side may feel. They may have been way off the pace in the first half but they showed in the second precisely why you can never get too comfortable against Clare.
They achieved that long before Shane Barrett’s sending off for Cork. Whatever Lohan said during the break worked a treat. Clare were back to their best in the latter half.
They brought the energy. They brought the skill. They brought the goals; scored right in front of the Clare supporters in the West Terrace. They looked for every possible margin – as champions do – in an effort to get back on top.
They did everything they could to win that game, bringing the physicality that was absent in the first in an effort to draw a reaction from Cork. Adam Hogan and Alan Connolly had a fierce battle. But it was Barrett that got caught biting the hook.
The Rebels escaped, only just. A point well-proven by Clare. They’re not going anywhere, even without Shane O’Donnell. They will be tough to bring down this year.
Of the four teams – Limerick are probably going to be least pleased with the draw. But with how the momentum swung in Tipperary’s favour at times, they can be proud of their resolve.
They may have been brought down a peg last year but they’ll be confident of returning to the steps of the Hogan stand this year.
The winning experience they’ve got in their ranks is incredible. Nickie Quaide, Barry Nash Aaron Gillane, Tom Morrissey, Diarmaid Byrnes and Kyle Hayes to name a few. Add in Shane O’Brien and Adam English they’ll surely be favourites again to win Munster.
The two young stars combined for 2-6, all from play. Promising signs.
The end result wasn’t great. You can point to the blown lead and say the Rebels bottled it.
The Rebels turned up to Ennis and took the game to All-Ireland champions. A place where they typically struggle, Cork ran the show for the entirety of the first half.
The team have confidence, quality and depth. They’ve got the panel capable of winning the Munster Championship. They showed in Ennis that their league form was worth the hype.
One point, plenty of learnings, and confidence to take into Sunday’s clash with Tipp.
Certainly could have been worse.
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