Hurling's current supremacy over football is reflected in the coverage of provincial papers. The build-up to yesterday's Munster final in Thurles was nothing short of phenomenal in the respective counties. The Clare Champion lavished nine broadsheet pages on the match by way of preview. The Corkman was no less generous in its coverage, giving away a 12-page special supplement (right, with its `The Rebels Are Back' headline that proved prescient), leading off its sport section with three pages on the match, and taking a news angle on the scramble for tickets on the paper's front page.

Joe O'Muircheartaigh placed much emphasis on the absence of Jamesie O'Connor and sought to make it a rallying point for Clare in his Champion preview. "He was even brilliant when things were rotten," wrote O'Muircheartaigh. "Now after 23 championship matches (since 1993) Jamesie is missing." And the recurring refrain throughout his piece - win it "for James's sake, lads." Afraid the appeal was in vain.