Seen as there is already a Leinster Hurling Championship thread started, it is only right that there is one for the Munster championship too.

Maybe the 'easiest' way of trying to predict what will happen here is calling who will finish 4th and 5th?

Here are my honest thoughts by team:

Clare - had a strong league campaign and the management duo seem to be extremely shrewd and obviously know the players really well. I think Clare will need to beat Waterford in Ennis in Round 2 to make the top 3 but I have a sneaky feeling Waterford will get the two points there and that will be massive at the end of the round robin. No O'Donnell could mean fewer goals too.

Cork - if Kingston was still in charge I'd have Cork as a shoe-in for the top 3 and for them to be better than last year. For some reason or other Meyler doesn't inspire me with confidence. I know he is an experienced inter-county manager but I get the impression that Cork fans weren't overly enthused with him either. I could see Waterford beating them too.

Limerick - its huge from them to finally get promoted back to Division 1a. Beating Galway and running Tipp to the wire is very encouraging. I thought when I watched them against Kilkenny last year they were very good in all areas except shooting at the posts. Gillane and Flanagan will help address this. I think they will make the top 3 on the assumption that their forwards will be more clinical this summer.

Tipp - the league was a bit of a rollercoaster ride for us. Assuming Bonnar Maher and Dan McCormack are fit I think we will do enough to make the top 3. It was that old failing of lack of ball winners that left us so flat in the league final. That is why those two boys are so important cos they can facilitate 4 silky forwards.

Waterford - if league form is anything to go by, you would dismiss Waterford straight away. I don't buy it though, I think with it being McGrath's last year (and probably Brick too) they will give it one last big push for the All-Ireland and make the top 3. I hope it doesn't end in tears for the two of them in Munster.

I wouldn't be surprised if I am completely wrong with all of the above and that both Cork and Clare make the top 3. It is impossible to call. With the exception of Limerick who were hell-bent on getting promoted the other 4 seemed to do a lot of shadow boxing during the league (Tipp and Waterford especially).

I would love to get your views on this great championship? Roll on Sunday week and round 1.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 11/05/2018 03:02:11    2098009

Gavin94 (Limerick) - Posts: 77 - 11/05/2018 08:40:34    2098022

Very difficult to call but Tipp, Limerick and Waterford to go through.

I think we're a shadow of the side we were this time last year. Hope I'm wrong.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 11/05/2018 09:29:13    2098032

Bump.

You wouldn't know this starts on Sunday to look at the forum.

PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 16/05/2018 16:19:14    2101423

Really looking forward to this, gonna get to go to all limerick games, plus waterford v tipp. Great for limerick city that we are getting big games in gaelic grounds, in fairness our county board have done good bit of work upgrading the facilities.

Also delighted minor games are curtain raisers, ive been to most limerick minor games the last few years and the standard has been very good. In my view this makes the munster championship games great value for money. €20 stand for two cracking games - where would you beat that, 5er for kids i fantastic value

I think it will be hard for limerick and we are underdog for each game, all the other teams have division 1a experience and a bit more championship experience, but we have some excellent young players who have won championships, the potential is there i have seen these lads at club, underage and county level a lot over last few years, was at 21s game in ennis very impressed with flanagan and kyle hayes. Peter casey is a huge loss for us bit if men like lynch, gillane flanagan, hayes byrnes finn perform to their best and express themselves there is very chance we can be competitive and win games

saying that while i fancy tipp to go through - really hard to call the other games but id slightly go for tipp cork waterford 1/2/3 - huge disadvantage to waterford having no home gmes the team that have waterford "away" now have an advantages , unlucky/unfair on their support as well

as for sunday i think tipp will win but i just want a performance, best of luck to john declan and the rest of the crew

youngmunstersman (Limerick) - Posts: 80 - 16/05/2018 17:06:05    2101443

Clare- Decent league and some good scoring forwards. The backs can all hurl but teams can come back at them too easily. It's all down to the Cork game. I don't see them beating Cork in the Athletic Grounds. Shane O Donnell cpuld be their saviour.
Cork- enigmatic this year. There's a big game or two in them but no more. Might best Clare but will struggle after that. I don't see them qualifying even though they have some fantastic skills. Alot of pressure on the Cadogans to lead and A big season for Lehane and Harnedy.
Tipperary- I think they 'll be as strong as anything out there. They have a brittle mentality and the slog of multiple games may take it's toll. Fantastic up front and shakey at the back. It's all down to weather teams can stay with them for 45 mins. If you can then you can beat them
Limerick- good side with some serious talent. Unproven talent at the top level of senior hurling but no county in Ireland has better 19 to 23 year olds. If things fall their way they could win Munster.
Waterford- Last chance saloon. They 'll need to start well and beat Clare away. They've no home games and have to travel 2hrs 30 to play 2 games on the Ennis road. It's stacked against them but they have some great seasoned players.
Tipp, Limerick and ....I don't know who 'll grab the last spot.

PeggyShippen (Limerick) - Posts: 300 - 16/05/2018 19:50:27    2101487

Think top three will be Tipperary, Cork and Limerick, think Waterford and Clare will lose out.

cityman73 (Limerick) - Posts: 775 - 16/05/2018 22:05:12    2101531

Almost impossible to call. Very few called Cork winning it last year.
I'm not sure where Tipp are going to pull a performance out of to beat Limerick on Sunday but if a few of the main men can rediscover some form then we may just get over the line. The reality is - and despite a League final appearance - Tipp have been poor the past 12 months. This year it's anyones guess who will be on the starting 15 and in what position.
Cork and Waterford are being written off by many based on League performances. Dublin and Galway both showed last week that this years league was nothing more than a game of cat and mouse!
At a push I'll go for Tipp, Cork and Waterford to come out of Munster. Waterford have been written off for years but they reach the latter stages of the cship almost every year and I'm sure there's a kick in them yet this year. The lack of home games may not be as significant to them as people suggest.
It'll he a huge blow for the two teams that don't make it and there's certaily no certainties who will get through.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 17/05/2018 08:30:53    2101585

If I was to go by hard core Championship form, its Tipp, Waterford and Cork.

I think one wont make it, paving the way for either Clare or Limerick

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 17/05/2018 08:46:00    2101591

i reckon tipp will win it at a canter.i dont think any other county in munster will come close,limerick are the only team with the potential but it is only potential.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 17/05/2018 11:55:49    2101667

Its hard to look past tipp but no forgone conclusion waterford had poor league but that doesn't mean anything looking at last weeks performances Limerick have potential no doubt but are very inexperienced at this level if they put up a serious display sunday twud be great. For me you'd have to back tipp cork and waterford but wouldn't be surprised if Limerick came through too

someday (Limerick) - Posts: 1104 - 17/05/2018 12:52:35    2101686

I think Tipp will win it, Limerick will come second and somebody else will come 3rd, I have absolutely no idea who but there has to be more in this Clare team than we've seen since 2013 and if there is, surely it will happen soon?

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 17/05/2018 13:00:26    2101691

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4316 - 17/05/2018 22:33:15    2101824

Inaroundehouse (Cavan) - Posts: 975 - 18/05/2018 04:54:17    2101856

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 18/05/2018 07:39:06    2101861

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 18/05/2018 13:06:59    2101955

It's very hard to predict how any side will go in this as there is no form to judge on and a bit of momentum could make a massive difference. Not sure about the new format but having said that it's a long time since I have looked forward to the start of the championship as much. Some good weather around as well at the minute which always adds to the big days in Munster.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 18/05/2018 13:47:12    2101964

Gleeson and Mahony out for Waterford....huge losses. Particularly Mahony.
I went for Waterford in the prediction thread but these injuries limits their chances now
Is Maurice fit?
Still fancy them to come out of Munster

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 24/05/2018 10:45:48    2103478

Lime, Cork and Water in that order.
Also, given that Muns is more competitive than Lein, is it ok that Muns 5th is shielded from relegation ? Although, in spirit, if both Provs are to be treated equally, the same rules should apply.
To be fair - in 2019, why not increase Lein to 6 teams and do the same in Muns (could add Kerry or an invited team).
Finally, 4 matches per team in the timeframe is a bit too much - 3 matches per team would be better.
For spice, have an initial 3-match 'Inter-Prov' schedule [half of Muns (M1) v half of Lein (L1); while the other halves also meet (M2 v L2)].
After 3 matches each, the top 2 in each group play 'head-to-head' Prov SFs - 4 losers playoff in 'Intra-Prov' pairings - 2 winners to AI QFs.
Prov Fnals 4 - 2 winners to AI SFs; 2 losers to 2 'Inter-Prov' AI QFs.
AI SFs - Muns Champs v Lein Runner-Up (or Muns team that beat them); Other 2 in other SF.

omahant (USA) - Posts: 2570 - 24/05/2018 22:30:28    2103697

who says munster is more competitive?
wexford,dublin,kilkenny have played games decided by less than a score. both games in munster had bigger margins of defeat.
only offaly have been beaten by more and that could change this weekend.
offaly were only beaten by kilkenny by 3-4 points more than the margin in the two games in munster last weekend.
time to stop believing the hype.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 25/05/2018 08:50:58    2103727