No more second chances.
As sporting events around Europe or the world went last week not many matched the atmosphere experienced in the Gaelic Grounds.
It had it all. The setting, the pitch like the carpet in the good room that you were never allowed into as a child, the pre-game music from Paddy Casey, Mundy and Sharon Shannon and the place basking in sunshine when rain was forecast. Even the weather Gods opted not ruin this most special of days.
The players gave it their all and the human side of these athletes showed us that they get nervous too.
Who wouldn't in an environment like it and as a result there were more mistakes made than we are used to seeing when these two clash.
Hurling-wise last year's Munster final was arguably a better game but such are the high expectations we now have for Limerick and Clare games.
It was a brilliant occasion and a joy to be there to witness it all and afterwards on the pitch as the GAA theme tune of Freed from Desire was belted out amongst a sea of green. It was like being in a massive nightclub at 4pm in the day.
Memories for life are being created by these Limerick players for their following.
Let’s not forget that nerves and mistakes and human nature apply to the officials here too who also had to perform in that cauldron. But refereeing the Munster hurling final has now nearly become a poisoned chalice.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. John Keenan let it flow last year, did a great job in everyone's eyes except the people that matter most do and didn't see another game that year.
Liam Gordon blew a lot more last Sunday and who knows what directive he was given? I met supporters on both sides on the way out of the Gaelic Grounds last Sunday and neither were happy with the man in the middle.
Are we expecting perfection from refs nowadays in a game that has never been faster?
How can one person make all the right calls all the time in a split second?
Are we getting to a stage now whereby the linesmen should be allowed enter their half of the field and become a second referee to help make these calls rather than run up and down the touchline to decide which way a ball along the ground will be struck?
In a small court during the game of basketball there are two referees; managing the court, working as a team and policing their respective areas.
In the GAA world we have three referees on the field of play so give the linesmen more authority, let them help manage the game and their respective area of the field. Let them work more as a team to help get these big calls right.
If it takes a little time to consult so be it, take a minute as a team of referees to decide someones year because right now I feel it is too much to ask one person to do it to the level of expectations that the public have for the fastest field game in the world.
And now it's knockout hurling, do or die and with that will come a different mindset for the players.
I was reading Pádraic Mannion's interview at the launch of the All-Ireland championship in De La Salle in Waterford and he said "I think if it was knockout championship it would have been more of an issue" when asked about the final period of chaos in the Leinster final.
That was superior hurling game than the Munster spectacle, but was lost in the vastness of Croke Park atmosphere-wise.
What he said was the truth. While everybody wants to win and especially when a trophy is on the line and a rest period in this marathon of a championship, there was still that safety net of another chance there.
That's gone now and I think we will really see more throwing the bodies on the line, last-ditch efforts and anxious mistakes from players knowing 'this is it now today’.
'We do it and we march on’. We don't and we'll be looking up the next flight out to Spain on the bus afterwards or waiting on a phone call from an unknown caller in America to see which club might want you for the remainder of the summer. Great craic without doubt, but they'd all rather be heading for a recovery session getting ready for the next round.
With all due respect to the Joe McDonagh finalists it will be a massive shock if Tipperary and Dublin don't come through these battles at the weekend.
The Dubs are coming in off the back of a very good 55-minute performance versus Galway, will want to prove that wasn't a once off and prove they are not a one-man Donal Bourke band. The only way to do that is get the win against Carlow and show us how good they really are against the Banner men the following week.
As for my own county Tipp, they are not in a bad place at all.
Lads are coming back from injuries, a few weeks away from the limelight of championship, and there is a hurt from the Waterford game.
They'll face Offaly who have people involved in their backroom team that know many of the Tipp players inside-out and will utilise that wisdom.
The Faithful have nothing to lose and everything to gain but I feel we are going to see a statement of intent from this Tipp group at the weekend.
Regardless of opposition, expect performance that says to the rest ‘we haven’t gone away yet’. I really hope they do.
Knockout hurling. Bring it on.
Watch highlights of the weekend's football and hurling championship action on The Saturday Game and The Sunday Game, 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
