IT’S BAFFLING that Laois and Offaly enter the Liam MacCarthy Cup race today when Tipperary, Waterford and Galway exited three weeks ago. But not much can be done about it because at a Special Congress last September, delegates voted to keep the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals. Both teams have home advantage on top of that, but as a Premier, Déise or Tribe supporter, you’d be pretty annoyed today when the door closed on you in May.
The Joe McDonagh Cup is a great competition and fair play to champions Offaly . That victory capped a fantastic week for hurling in the Faithful County, adding senior honours to the All-Ireland Under-20 title. Johnny Kelly’s men fully deserve their place in the Leinster SHC next year.
But the Joe McDonagh finalists should not be granted a free pass to the Liam MacCarthy Cup a week later. Looking at the McDonagh final last weekend at Croke Park and at the Leinster and Munster deciders that followed, the gap in standards — even accounting for Dublin’s woeful display — is enormous. That gulf will be fully on show when Cork arrive in Tullamore today.
The Rebels have improved so much since being caught by Waterford in their Munster SHC opener. Pat Ryan’s men will be out for a repeat of what they did to Tipperary in Thurles last time out when they scored 4-30. Still, I was disappointed with the Rebels’ half-back line and midfield because they did not release enough good ball to their inside line.
Cork rained goals but I wouldn’t.
