One week into the championship and we got our annual reminder that the hurling league is like a pitchman with a three-card trick.
Tipp aren't spent after all, Cork aren't the finished article, and Clare people might have a flair for statements like whipping boys and little fish but they made a bold one when they had to last week.
Another five matches this week. The usual exchange rate - two in Munster gets you three in Leinster.
Down south, there was a point for all four teams. This Sunday, Waterford make their first appearance. They won the second division league and you know the drill by now - we're not going there.
The Déise have new management, some old faces and home advantage. They have a wind at their backs but they must face the All-Ireland champions.
This time last week Clare were reminding everybody that they were slipping into the championship without any fanfare or fuss. No smoke and mirrors this weekend and the fuse is burning.
Their second half left a mark against Cork and they have momentum.
We don't know yet what Waterford will bring to the summer but that momentum should be enough to get Clare their first win.
Down by the River Lee, Cork face Tipperary. Remember the days when this clash was the highlight of the summer, any summer?
Last weekend, the Rebel attack looked as confident and creative as it ever had been. But the second half brought harsh lessons, and none more so than the impact of a red card.
The turnover of 12 points will have hurt. But níl bua gan dua and taken the right way, will become a weapon rather than a wound.
Tipp made chaos in the middle third against Limerick but there was more to them than that.
When Limerick did their old third quarter blitz, the same old story didn't unfold. Tipp stood up.
This will be nothing like the league final but Cork to make the most of home turf.
We've often said the Munster championship is the fig leaf that covers the GAA's embarrassment at their inability to spread hurling.
What we call the Leinster championship is basically the championship of the rest of Ireland. And still it struggles to muster much excitement.
Kilkenny only had to be competent to beat Galway last weekend. The annual early championship meeting of these two is often shadow-boxing but usually entertaining.
Last week, the shadows from the west were just shadows of their former selves. The Tribesmen travel over the border to Offaly tomorrow and they need a good win if any enthusiasm is to be whipped up.
On the other hand, Offaly have an enthusiasm surplus. Their young side needs to stay alive in Leinster this year.
They led at 68 minutes against the Dubs only to suffer an ambush at the end.
They'll push Galway hard but it may end up being the Faithful's second hard lesson of the week.
Dublin say hello to Wexford tomorrow in Parnell Park. Twelve months ago, Wexford lost to Antrim when they travelled north so an 11-point margin having been reduced to 14 men last weekend was a decent start to their summer.
Wexford and Dublin know that in terms of getting out of Leinster, this will be a big game.
Both counties are evolving but only one of them has Lee Chin. He ran in 16 points, 12 of them from frees, against Antrim. That sort of reliability will be crucial.
Offaly showed a little inexperience when Dublin had emptied the bench last week. Wexford shouldn't be so vulnerable.
Finally, Kilkenny travel north to Corrigan Park. Something in the Belfast air makes Antrim a different prospect at home but not different enough to make anything from this one.
Sin é a chairde, enjoy it while you can as the hurling summer is short and the games are coming thick and fast.
Dónal Óg Cusack was speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland
Watch a Munster Hurling Championship double-header, Waterford v Clare and Cork v Tipperary, on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates from around the country on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
