Search Results for 'Munster Senior Hurling Championship'

At the end of the day the long and winding road has led back to the destination that most had hoped for, Mayo in the first All Ireland semifinal on Sunday August 21. Rather than coming through to this stage as provincial champions with just a quarter-final to play, Mayo have made their way through the scenic route and disposed of Leinster opposition twice and then the Ulster champions to get here. Next up for them is a challenge from a group of men from Munster, but once again it is not one of the ones we would have expected. Tipperary, a division three side that finished their league campaign just two points above relegation to division four for next year, have wandered their way through this championship summer to become the story of the summer.

The prize for the Galway senior hurlers for their impressive 2-28 to 0-22 win over Cork last Sunday in Semple stadium is an All-Ireland semi-final clash with Tipperary in three weeks time at Croke Park.

Neither of last Sunday's hurling quarter finals was anything to write home about in terms of quality, however the victors, Dublin and Waterford, will not be too worried about that. Both teams have suffered heavy defeats in their provincial finals but they will be quickly forgotten now. The two winning managers Anthony Daly and David Fitzgerald will be heroes once again in their adopted counties. I take my hat off to both of them for different reasons.

It’s not too often I start my column with a football theme but the scenes that followed last Sunday’s Leinster football final will have repercussions for every GAA supporter.

How refreshing it was to finally see a good honest championship match. The games to date in this year’s campaign have been either one sided affairs or ones of poor quality. So with the World Cup just about to get underway the GAA got a great boost when Waterford and Clare did battle in Thurles last Monday.

Humble pie was what I had to eat for supper Sunday evening after Cork's landslide victory over Tipperary. Yes I'll hold my hands up, I for one didn't see this coming and judging by Tipperary's performance they didn't see it coming either.

Since my last column two weeks ago, Tipp have reclaimed the Munster title after a solid performance against Clare in the final. They, like Kilkenny, can sit back and watch the remaining contenders battle it out for the remaining two semi-final spots.

I said last week that a shock could be on the cards in Semple Stadium last Sunday. Okay it didn't pan out that way in the end, but at various stages of both quarter-finals it sure looked like happening. Cork and Waterford move onto the semi-final stages after cracking encounters with the former out to upset Kilkenny's 3 in a row dream on August 10. Over the last decade these two sides have stopped each other from completing this marvellous feat, it's a bit like the song Lanigan's Ball “one stepped in....", they will once again as in '04 relish the opportunity to repeat the trick and set up an All-Ireland appearance. Cork judging by their prematch get-together, obviously feel the world is against them. It's the first time I've seen everyone step outside the confines of the playing area for the National Anthem. They are well within their rights to do so but you're only bringing notice to yourself. Both the Clare and Wexford players were probably kicking themselves last Monday morning for letting a good chance slip by. You would have to acknowledge Cork's persistence to stick at it when all looked lost at half time. They once again proved that they have the bottle and they know how to both wear down a side and finish off a job - this is a trait that both Clare and Wexford lack.

The national hurling league swung into action last Sunday without All-Ireland champions Kilkenny, heavy snow that fell early on Sunday morning put a stop to their involvement. I'm sure everyone connected to the set-up would have been disappointed not to make it to Pearse Stadium in Galway but player safety has to be paramount in those situations. The snow and icy conditions seemed to have caught everyone off guard. I'm sure if they had anticipated this scenario they might have elected to make the trip on Saturday afternoon.

Last Sunday’s Munster championship clash between old foes Tipperary and Cork was definitely a game of two halves if ever I saw one.