Day of joy sends tremor through Treaty

Limerick 0-24 Cork 0-15

A roar of celebration, yes, but also a roar of relief, an end to 17 years of crushing frustration in Munster. Ciarán Carey was the last Limerick captain to lift the same trophy, back in 1996, the year of his famous point against Clare in the semi-final. This one has been a long time coming and despite the fact Cork played the entire second half with just 14 men, boy was it convincing!

A tremor surely ran through hurling also because — whisper it — the winds of change are starting to blow. Kilkenny, Tipperary, Galway and Cork have been forced to take the low road as Limerick and Dublin, both of whom operating in Division 1B this year, are the new provincial champions. Who would have forecast that at the start of this electric hurling season?