Pa Cronin believes this year's Munster SHC is wide open.

While acknowledging that Tipperary are worthy favourites, the Cork captain feels there is very little between the other four competing teams.

"You'd have to say that Tipp are probably a level above the rest of us at the moment, but we know them inside out at this stage, and we have always been competitive against them in both league and championship over the past few years," he told the Corkman at Monday's launch of the Munster championships.

"We beat them in Munster in 2010, and our performance against them in our first game in the league this season was top class, so we wouldn't be fearful about taking them on in the championship."

Cronin insists the Rebels haven't been disheartened by their league relegation.

"Although we were relegated in the league, we beat Tipp, drew with Galway up in Pearse Stadium and ran Kilkenny to a point at Nowlan Park, and they were serious results against the top three teams in the country.

"So I don't think we are as bas as some people are making us out to be, and, while it was obviously disappointing to be relegated, we won't be reading too much into it because our form in the campaign overall was fairly encouraging." Tweet

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