Munster wins first round-robin bragging rights

There was a certain reassurance about the outcomes of the hurling quarter-finals last weekend. Despite the view held by some that the Leinster championship was more intense and of higher actual quality than its Munster counterpart it is now clear that the Munster teams have more to offer the latter stages of the championship. All that excitement in Munster was not all for nothing. Wexford seem to have plateaued and Kilkenny are in a state of flux trying to marry older and younger players. Neither looks posed for a serious tilt at the All-Ireland title at the moment and it is appropriate that two teams on an upward curve are going forward.

Former Wexford hurler, Tom Dempsey, said recently that what Brian Cody achieved this year was comparable with anything he ever achieved in the past. It is difficult to reconcile that view with reality. While Kilkenny have remained admirably competitive there is nothing extraordinary about their achievements in 2018 by any measure. Worst case likely scenario for Kilkenny in the championship would have seen them qualify in the top three of the group in Leinster. This automatically gave them a quarter-final appearance which is where it all ended anyway.

 

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