We have a big game in the Munster hurling game on Saturday evening when reigning All-Ireland champions Tipperary play Clare in Semple Stadium at 7pm. Most Tipp fans admit that they were probably lucky to beat Cork in last year’s All-Ireland final, but so far this year the team in blue and gold have only one point, from a draw with Waterford. Clare are doing slightly better, having beaten Waterford, but the Banner were very poor against Limerick 10 days ago. So both counties need the two points to make sure of getting out of Munster this year. On Sunday Limerick will be hot favorites to beat Waterford in the Gaelic Grounds and by Sunday evening we should have a better idea of which two counties will qualify for the Munster final this year. Hurling action in Leinster also on Saturday with Galway playing Dublin in Salthill, Kilkenny are at home to Kildare in Nowlan Park and Wexford travel to Tullamore to play Offaly.
DOWN HAVE HIGH
TAILTEANN HOPES
Ryan Magill sees the Tailteann Cup as an opportunity for Down to bounce back from their heavy defeat to Armagh in the Ulster football semifinal. Seven of the first round of the Tailteann Cup were played last weekend, but Down’s game against Leitrim is fixed for Sunday next. Magill said: ‘‘It’s massive to have another competition that we can bounce back after the Ulster Championship. If you win the Tailteann Cup, you have an automatic spot in the Sam Maguire next year, so we will try to get ready to go again and try our best and hopefully we will be in the Sam Maguire next year. It’s difficult to get back on the horse after taking such a bad beating against Armagh, but if you have any aspirations to go further we need to dust ourselves down and go again and see where that takes us.’’ Down qualified for Tailteann Cup final in 2023 when they lost to Meath and 12 month later they won the competition, beating Laois in the final.
