MOSTLY HURLINGThe slightest step down from the mindset shown against Tipp and they will find it difficult to dominate Waterford

THERE’S NO doubt but that, for any hurler, playing in a Munster Senior hurling final is only eclipsed by playing in an All-Ireland one. Such is the tradition and history of the many, many, great finals that any player worth his salt would like his CV to include having played in a Munster final, better again if he was on the winning team.

In my lifetime, the stories of the heroics of Ring and Mackey introduced me to the Munster final world. Then came Wall, the Doyles, Keating, Roche and Power. The 1970s and colour television coverage created new heroes, with names like Hartigan, Cregan, Grimes, McCarthy, Crowley, Cummins, Barry Murphy, Galvin, Stack and O’Leary. The 1980s brought us English, Fox, Mulcahy, Cashman, Cunningham, Ryan, Bonnar, Fitzgibbon and Quaid. The last decade of the millennium introduced us to Walsh, O’Sullivan, Foley, Flynn, O’Connor, Lohan, Daly, Lynch, Carey, Corcoran and Hartley. This fast-eloping decade has cast names like Ó hAilpín, Cusack, O’Sullivan, Curran, O’Connor, Kenny, Mullane, Shanahan, Kelly, Gilligan, Moran and McGrath, on to the list.

About a dozen years ago the Cork hurlers began using Dundrum House as their base on the mornings of championship games in Thurles. It’s the ideal location, only a half an hour from the venue and yet away from the hype and the excitement of Semple Stadium. For those on the team coach on big-match days the journey from the hotel to the field is a highlight that lasts long in the memory, such is the camaraderie, tension, and expectancy of this tribe going to war. On approaching the town, when the parked cars, the colours and the stadium come into view, the nervousness grows. There was always a kind of a feeling of safety when the dressingroom was reached and everybody went to their usual space to begin their own routine.

On Sunday a contemporary rivalry will be renewed when the hurlers of Cork and Waterford come face to face for what should be a keenly-contested final.

The Rebels’ league form was slightly better than their opponents and apart from a sub-par performance in the final they will play Sunday’s game reasonable confident they have their best 15 on the field. In their championship game against Tipperary they gave what might be described as the complete team performance. They shut out Tipp’s forwards. They dominated midfield, even though Tom Kenny was fairly hampered by a hamstring injury he brought into the game. Their half forwards worked like Trojans and their inside line scored their three goals.

Their game against Limerick isn’t really worthy of comment. On Sunday, they face a team which won’t fear them. Over the past 10 years these sides have served up some classics. The teams are fairly well on a par, results wise.

Cork might find it difficult to reach the psychological state they reached against Tipp. The slightest step down from that mindset and they will find it difficult to dominate a side that won’t be found wanting in terms of motivation. But they have a good mix of youth and experience in their ranks.

On their day, the Cork backs will close down any forward line, Kilkenny excepted for now. Shane O’Neill is among the best defenders in the game and Eoin Cadogan has slotted seamlessly into the number three shirt vacated by Diarmuid O’Sullivan.

Cathal Naughton has been impressive as Kenny’s partner at midfield, while Jerry O’Connor did very well at centre forward against Tipperary. Whether it’s his best position is debatable.

The forwards can all be match winners. They certainly won’t get the same latitude afforded by the Tipp backs. It’s also fairly certain they won’t all play as well as they did in that game, or be allowed to.

From a Waterford perspective, limiting Aisake Ó hAilpín is obviously of the utmost importance. The choice of full back, so often a problem for the Déise, could have a big bearing on the result on Sunday.

Tipperary’s forwards didn’t work hard enough against the Cork backs in their championship game. Waterford’s forwards will have to. Their marquee names will have to be disciplined. There won’t be much in it. Cork should just about take the shorter route, though.

The meeting of Dublin and Clare should be the better of the qualifier games this weekend. Clare produced a top-class performance against Waterford and will be a stern test for a Dublin side that seems to be either standing still or on the slide. On the other hand, the Metropolitans’ great victory over Kilkenny at under-21 level can only be good for them. Clare’s inexperience might cost them in a game that should have plenty of honest endeavour and open hurling.

Offaly’s heroics against Galway should have them well set up and they should be too strong for a Limerick side that are on a downward trajectory.

Kilkenny’s comprehensive win last Sunday was the best result for the chasing pack. A loss to Galway would have meant a detailed forensic examination would take place and an even stronger, more focused, more accurate team would emerge to guarantee five in a row.

For now there’s still hope for a few counties, slim though it is. The back door will be closed the next time the champs play and, of course, there’s always the chance of a miracle.