Clare-Galway is an intriguing contest in the context of how two of Limerick’s closest challengers are still doing everything in their power to try and make up the ground

The physicality of the tackling and hitting was savage when Galway came to the Gaelic Grounds last February

Cork seem to be operating with a different mindset than most teams

Brian Lohan now has huge options in his forward line

The guttural and deafening roar that erupted at the final whistle just seconds after Shane Kingston had landed the winning point was like a thunderous war-cry

The greatest irony of the competition is that it will still produce some brilliant contests in the opening weeks before managers and players decide to pull up the handbrake

When you think of the great hurling clubs none of them are anywhere near Ballyhale

In the end, Ballygunner broke but it was more that Ballyhale broke them

Ballygunner are an incredible team and were deserving nine-point winners, but Ballyea probably couldn’t have done any more than what they produced.

Tony Kelly and almost every other Ballyea player, will need a season-defining, possibly even a career-defining display, to win this one