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Hurling Nation: A hunger for success in weekend feast

We know that the GAA's approach to the game is 'féasta inniu agus gorta amárach' and this weekend is an all-you-can-eat special.

We’ve five big provincial games and for dessert a nice Joe McDonagh Cup tie.

Leinster might not be epic but it has decent storylines.

Antrim travel to Salthill. Davy’s team were beaten at home by Dublin last weekend; we think that was their final chance of an ambush under the Black Mountain. Galway to win.

Later, Wexford welcome Offaly to the sunny south-east. Sadly, Offaly’s summer so far has been full of clouds with disappointing exits for the minor and Under-20 teams.

Barring a miracle in Wexford Park, Offaly’s year comes down to next weekend against Antrim.

On Sunday the Leinster segment of the menu is completed when Dublin travel to Kilkenny.

We thought that the change of manager in Dublin might mean that they would tread water this year but they look like they know what they're doing and better still, they’re doing it with pace.

Kilkenny will be the stiffest test yet. Dublin gave Kilkenny a fair rattle in the corresponding game last year before collapsing in the Leinster final; they look better this year but might have to endure another narrow defeat this weekend.

Davy Fitzgerald (L) saw his Antrim size blitzed by Niall Ó Ceallacháin's Dublin last time out

And to Munster. Go back to the beginning, the Munster championship was to be three works in progress battling it out behind two All-Ireland champions. Clare were still wearing the crown, Limerick were still feeling undressed without it.

Clare and Cork played pass the parcel with hype, Tipperary and Waterford were hoping for the break that might break open third place. A few episodes down the line and all talk of hype is gone - and so are Clare almost.

Often in Munster, Limerick have been the storyline: injuries, suspensions, would they be caught this time? And always they freed themselves.

This year there has been the wonder cure of the greatest goalkeeper of his generation and the smooth blending in of some proper young talents. The old faces don't look so old.

They play Cork on Sunday. Cork beat them twice last year. What are either team’s chances of beating each other twice or more this year?

Limerick are at home, we’ll go with Limerick to win the battle on Sunday but the 2025 war will be far from over between these two.

Tipp and Waterford scrap out the other game at Semple Stadium. A win for any of these two cements third place. This is going to be a rollercoaster game.

Waterford have impressed but there’s a bit of a buzz around Tipperary hurling at the moment. Darragh McCarthy is back, they’re on their own grass and we expect Tipp to win.

Dónal Óg Cusack was speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland


Watch a Munster Hurling Championship double-header, Tipperary v Waterford and Limerick v Cork, 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

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