Cork v Tipperary, Thurles, 4pm
These two old Munster rivals meet again just a fortnight after they played out a thrilling 1-23 apiece draw at the same venue.
Both sides will be glad of the extra game to bridge the gap between league and Championship.
But Tipp’s experience of the big occasion in recent years might just give tell this time out.
Cork have been highly impressive this spring, but will line out without the influential Cathal Naughton who picked up a hamstring injury playing for his club.
Tipperary captain Paul Curran misses out as well (knee), but their recent experience of big matches should stand to them.
While there are many critics of the current league format, there is no doubt that it has thrown up some highly-entertaining clashes.
The main problem is that it restricts the number of regular season games to five - a paltry amount for the effort players put in through the early part of the year.
Still, the winners of both games at Semple Stadium on Sunday will have a final to look forward to and they won’t be complaining of a lack of games at that stage.
Cork midfielder Lorcan McLoughlin spoke this week of the positive impact Jimmy Barry-Murphy has had on hurling in the county since he returned as manager.
McLoughlin did, however, admit that the Rebels have a long road to travel to reach the top, especially after the retirements of Ben and Jerry O’Connor and Ronan Curran.
But the Leesiders still have plenty of seasoned campaigners in their ranks, with few more seasoned than Niall McCarthy.
The former All-Star has been named at left half-forward in one of four changes from the last encounter. John Gardiner starts at midfield, with Seán Óg Ó h’Ailpín reverting to his traditional half-back role.
Tipp’s Padraic Maher will find himself in the unfamiliar position of full-back as he takes over all of Curran’s responsibilities.
Pa Bourke has said he wants to fill the void in the Premier men’s attack left by the retirement of Lar Corbett.
But it could a vintage display from Eoin Kelly that steals the headlines come Monday morning. The 30-year-old has not been named in the starting XV, but that hardly rules him out of the equation.
The Mullinahone man hit an amazing 0-18 in a club championship game recently, and it would be no surprise if he was to prove the hero yet again.
Verdict: Tipperary
