by James McMahon
Tipperary are seeking a fourth crown in five years in what is set to be a competitive tussle down south.
Apart from their collapse against Kilkenny in the League final, Cork had a good spring and under Jimmy Barry-Murphy will be keen to stamp their authority on provincial matters again. The Rebels were last Munster kingpins in 2006.
Waterford, now under the management of Michael Ryan, will be as competitive as ever, having endured a testing league campaign.
Limerick, with John Allen at the helm, will be keen to build on the good work done by Donal O’Grady, and face Tipp in the first round.
Davy Fitzgerald has given Clare a new-found belief after a promotion from Division 1B earlier this spring. Fitzy will no doubt relish the prospect of meeting the Déise in the provincial semi-final.
Clare
You have to go back to 1998 for Clare’s last Munster success. Back then they were to the forefront of the hurling landscape, with an insatiable desire to succeed.
From their manager Ger Loughnane to iconic players like Anthony Daly, Ollie Baker, Jamesie O’Connor and Davy Fitzgerald they brought added colour and no little controversy to championship Sundays. The last-named is now entrusted with making the Banner a force to be reckoned with again.
An Ireland U-21 success in 2009 saw the emergence of a new crop of players, and while defeats to Waterford and Tipperary in the last two Munster campaigns offered respectability, Fitzgerald will be expecting his charges to at least reach a Munster decider on 15 July.
Darach Honan and Pat Vaughan were missing for the latter stages of the league, and are targeting a return to face Waterford on 17 June.
Expect Clare to play with a heightened intensity this summer, as they respond to Fitzgerald’s rallying calls.
Cork
The return of Jimmy Barry-Murphy has given Cork a renewed vigour as they seek a more regular seat at hurling’s top table. If the scars of the league final no-show against Kilkenny can heal quickly then the Rebels are more than well equipped to reign in Munster again.
JBM’s squad is a mixture of the old and the new. The latter category boasts the likes of William Egan, Conor Lehane and Darren Sweetnam – all fine hurlers – and the upcoming battles will surely bring them on even more.
Who will fill the goalkeeping berth in the absence of Donal Og Cusack and how Seán Ó hAilpín will fare on his return to the heat of summer battle are interesting asides in Cork’s upcoming journey.
Tipperary or Limerick will provide their opposition on 24 June. By then seven weeks will have passed since their mauling by the Cats, and JBM will hope that nerves don’t undermine their prospects again.
Limerick
2011 saw an upturn in Limerick’s fortunes from the nadir of 12 months previous. Narrow defeats to Waterford and Dublin restored pride, with Donal O’Grady orchestrating the upturn.
The baton is now passed to another Corkman in the shape of John Allen. After leading Clare in the Division 1B final by eight points by stage, they let victory slip away.
The disappointment afterwards was palpable. Limerick, like Dublin, surely need to be playing in the top tier.
Shane Dowling, Graham Mulchay and Declan Hannon, assuming he’s fit, are the cornerstones of a lively Limerick attack that will be looking to make hay against Tipperary in their Munster opener.
The bookies will have the Premier down to win and that scenario should suit the Treatymen. In saying that, they will need to need to show the same drive that nearly caught out Waterford last June.
Tipperary
The reigning Munster champions are again drawn in the preliminary round, but that’s not likely to stop their march, assuming they have rediscovered their appetite for the battle.
Last year, they blitzed Waterford on Munster final day, but that was the apex of their achievements in 2011 as they dropped a level in the All-Ireland series, culminating in the final defeat to Kilkenny.
This season’s league campaign was patchy to say the least, in spite of getting to a semi-final with Cork. The manner in which the Rebels brushed them aside in the closing stages was a cause for concern, and so leaving them with much to ponder before they face Limerick.
Lar Corbett’s return to the fold is a boost. He is not expected to feature in the opening-day clash, but assuming the Treaty hurdle is overcome, who’s to say that the Cork assignment exactly a month later, won’t feature the talented Thurles player.
Tipperary still possess sufficient talent in their ranks and with the likes of Patrick Maher, Seamus Callanan and Paul Curran all set to return, Declan Ryan’s squad will fight hard to retain their title.
Waterford
With a new manger at the helm, Waterford eye another long championship summer. Last season’s horror showing against Tipp in the Munster final was followed by a vast improvement against Galway that saw the westerners brushed aside with ease. While a commendable All-Ireland semi-final showing against Kilkenny ultimately brought defeat, pride was restored.
Michael Ryan’s time in charge got off to a difficult start with three defeats in the league. However, the ship was steadied, in line with the return of John Mullane, and Waterford remained in the top flight.
The last ten years has shown the county to be a competitive force in championship hurling. Coming up against their old boss in the semi-final will have them focused, as they know Clare will come at them will force.
Verdict:
Tipperary still look best equipped to prevail if the team can rediscover the desire that brought them to All-Ireland glory in 2010. Yet, in saying that all the participants are capable of having a long summer
