Limerick manager John Kiely rejects the idea that four counties should be allowed progress from the Munster championship, saying it would "diminish" the importance of the games.
Waterford boss Peter Queally, who cut a frustrated figure following their elimination last weekend, called for the championship structure to be re-examined, saying that players were increasingly opting out of inter-county duty due to the possibility that their campaign would be over before June.
The Déise, who won their opening match against Clare this season, have now failed to advance from Munster in each of the six round-robin campaigns and Queally suggested that hurling follow the championship model adopted in football.
However, Kiely dismisses the idea that the Munster format requires any change, while expressing sympathy with Waterford's struggles.
"It's tough. It is tough. They haven't come out (of the province) yet. So it is very tough on them," Kiely told RTÉ Sport.
"They've made great progress this year. Peter has done really, really well. You just have to keep going back. And eventually you'll get the breakthrough.
"Look at where Tipperary were last year. Bottom of the group. And this year, they've turned it around. They've got five points on the board. And it was only score difference that separated the three teams at the top.
"Do I think putting four teams out is going to improve it? I don't. I think it'll actually diminish the importance of the games.
"It is tough. But it's a good tough.
"When you love sport, you want to be involved in a competition that has incredible standards, incredible competition, incredible rivalries. And real jeopardy.
"And that's what the Munster championship has. That's why it's so special. And that's why the crowds are turning out.
"We have to embrace the jeopardy and the desire to get out."
As regards the much-discussed price hike for the Munster final, with stand tickets now costing €50, the second rise in successive years, Kiely acknowledges it's a "big hit" for families.
"Listen, supporters are never going to be happy with a price hike in tickets. It's a big commitment to be a supporter in the first place and they are going to league matches.
"They are going to all the championship matches and there’s a lot of those matches in a short period of time.
"People are looking towards the summer, looking towards summer holidays, kids going away on summer camps - all those kinds of things.
"So it’s just an added expense on a family where you are trying to bring two adults and two or three kids to the match and it’s going to cost you a nice few quid to go.
"If the season was more stretched the expense is spread out as well with it.
"That’s maybe something that needs to be taken into consideration, that it’s a big hit for families all at the one time.
"People haven’t been giving out to me about the price of the tickets too much. It’s more about getting your hands on one that is the biggest problem at the moment.
"I think the onus maybe goes back on the Munster Council now. Ultimately they are the ones who are gathering this additional revenue.
"I think maybe in the course of the next 12 months they need to make it reasonably clear to everybody what the additional revenues went towards.
"I think that would be something that would be very much appreciated by the paying public, to know that that money is being put to very good use right across the Association."
Limerick are seeking an astonishing seventh straight Munster SHC title, having already broken new ground with the six-in-a-row in 2024.
Having already booked their spot in the Munster title following the demolition of Cork in their penultimate game, they were free to rotate the squad for last Sunday's relatively low-stakes clash with Clare.
And Kiely confirms a clean bill of health just over a week out from the Munster final.
"We've had a really strong run the last couple of months, and everybody's training at the moment.
"A few knocks after the Cork game, where a few fellas had to step out for a week, but they're all back since Wednesday night."
