Growing up a kid, as mad as it sounds, I had an obsession with Clare hurling. In the late nineties, as I became a fanatic of the game of hurling, I had Clare flags hanging out the front windows of the house.
No doubt my father was wondering what he was rearing, and it probably killed him at the time, but I guess once I was happy, he was happy. Thankfully, it didn’t last too long! My mother by her own admission, didn’t, and still doesn’t, know much about the game, but she used to get a great kick out of Davy coming up the field for any penalties that Clare would have got. That made two of us.
Dalo, as captain of that Clare team, would always have been a huge favourite of mine. And like that, it's amazing how time passes and where you end up. On Saturday evening, I found myself in the company of Dalo with team-mates as we headed back to Murty Brownes for a few pints.
For the Cork and Kilkenny game, I watched the lot with Dalo. On Sunday, somewhat shook I might add, I spent the day with Davy analysing the league semi-finals and the relegation final. It's always great to have role models and heroes growing up, and I am fortunate that I get to work beside a lot of them now.
What impressed me the most about the Cork boys is that they dug out the game. At no stage watching the game did I think they were going to come out on top. They struggled to claw the Cats back after a sluggish start, and it looked like Kilkenny were going to cling on by a few points.
On Kilkenny, I have been so impressed by them since the Dublin game. Admittedly, I thought after the Tipperary game that they would struggle. Since then, they have changed 33% of their team, and also have to welcome back TJ Reid and Adrian Mullen, which will bring it close to 50%. When they have everyone back and available, they could have a big year for sure, and are arguably favourites to win the Leinster Championship now.
Over the last number of years, when it came close to the boil and the game was in the melting pot, Cork haven’t been able to come out on the right side, and that’s what stood out on Saturday.
Is this Cork team now different? Have Kingston and Gary Keegan brought that steeliness to them? The answer isn’t for now, and in reality, nobody knows, and we will only find out over the next six to eight weeks. But all the signs have been good.
They have improved dramatically since last year's All-Ireland. They have tightened up at the back, which they needed to do. There are still one or two elements they need to improve on, and I would expect to see that this weekend. Because after that you only have a two-week lead-in and will only be fine-tuning the few bits.
Waterford and Wexford was disappointing, but not if you were from Waterford. Watching the game beside Davy considering his recent history with Wexford was intriguing, to say the least.
But he was visibly disappointed to see what was unfolding. I think it could be the best or the worst thing to happen for Wexford. If they don’t perform well in the championship people will say "sure the writing was on the wall" and if they do improve those same people will say "it was a great learning".
But don’t forget they did win five from five, so things can't be all that bad. The biggest headache Darragh Egan will have is the injuries to Lee Chin and Conor McDonald. If they are out for a few weeks that is a serious, serious concern.
Also, easier said then done, but if a team can nullify the impact of Rory O'Connor, where else are their main threats? Especially if those boys are missing. So it really is a big three weeks for Wexford.
On the Waterford front, I have constantly built them up this year, but only because I'm convinced they are on the money. They remind me of where Limerick were in 2018. A big panel built, a top class manager and a top class coach.
They play a serious brand of hurling, so sharply, and at a ferocious pace. Every person on the field knows what their job is, and they work so well as a unit. What is also great for Cahill is he has been without Conor Prunty, Jamie Barron, Stephen Bennett and Callum Lyons, so they have serious players to come back in and bring the team on again.
Obviously this weekend Austin Gleeson will be missing, but he will come back into it for championship. I know if you look at their results, draw with the Dubs, nearly beaten by Antrim, beat Tipp, beaten by Kilkenny, it may not look all that impressive, but I think he has the group where he wants them - all fighting for a spot on the panel, and dogging each other to get on that team.
This weekend is not the be-all and end-all, and it won't have a huge bearing on either team's championship dreams. Both will be going full throttle, but I think Waterford will still have three or four players to come back into their championship team, where as Kingston will probably play his championship team.
It has the makings of a great game, and I think Waterford will just sneak it.
The Division 2A final sees Westmeath face Down. I know I said on Sunday night it would be great to see Down win it. That was solely because they have been so long away from playing the top teams, it would be some achievement for them.
I have played against Westmeath on a number of occasions, and never got anything easy. Westmeath are favourites to overcome Down, but we all love the underdog story don’t we?
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