Time flies and we’re already at the end of a round robin for another year. To Leinster first on a crowded Sunday and three good games are in store.
In the basement Antrim go to Tullamore. The loser drops to the Joe McDonagh Cup next year, the winner stays on in Leinster. Antrim haven’t gone well this summer, being unfortunate with injuries and some of the natives are getting restless.
Offaly got into a dog fight at Wexford Park last weekend and almost got a result. Signs are that they’re in a better place and will survive.
Meanwhile, Dublin and Galway are in Parnell Park fighting it out for a Leinster final place. Dublin’s second half against Kilkenny last week was a strong statement of self-belief.
Galway have improved since the subdued opening game against Kilkenny, but Parnell Park is a tough place. Galway haven’t beaten Dublin in the capital since the round robin series began and we expect that not to change this weekend.
Finally, Wexford and Kilkenny. This traditional fixture often carries its own brand of madness.
Wexford usually have moored the line and hurl well against the Stripeymen. More often than not, it works.
Kilkenny will expect the usual ferocity in Wexford Park, but even a win won’t cure the problem of Wexford’s score difference.
There are two Munster games later on Sunday. Waterford travel to Cork and both teams have everything on the line.
A Cork win puts them into a Munster final, a Waterford win gets the Déise out of Munster for the first time since the round robin format began.
Waterford beat Cork in the championship last year. That loss brought about a bit of a rethink for Cork, but it was an opening game for both teams.
Last week the Rebels lacked work rate and attack, the defence was pushed aside and the middle third were bullied.
Limerick were excellent and keen to put Cork on their backside, but too many Cork players were not at the level needed. They’ll know that from now on they can’t afford to drop below complete warrior mode for the rest of this summer.
Overnight Cork have named four changes from the Limerick starting 15. Declan Dalton, Niall O’Leary and Robert Downey need some injury recovery time and Ethan Twomey drops to the bench.
In come Cormac O’Brien, Brian Roche, Ger Millerick and Seamus Harnedy and they should bring mostly what Cork need – energy and aggression.
Waterford have challenges too. Last week’s defeat to Tipp proved that an tús maith isn’t always leath na hoibre. After the early goal, Waterford were patchy. There’s an overreliance on Stephen Bennett and Jamie Barron.
The Déise only conceded one goal in their three games, they don’t get cut open too easily, but they don’t score enough at the other end. It’ll be hard and desperate by the Lee but I’ll go for Cork to survive.
The other Munster game is a dead rubber. Beating Cork so well last week had a bonus for Limerick and that it put the neighbours from Clare out of the Championship at the same time.
That’s it for this week. Get out and enjoy the hurling if you can.
