Nights like Saturday are what we dream of during those long winter evenings when we wonder if the summer will ever come.

Tipp were right there with the All-Ireland champions for the first 25 minutes. Limerick were playing good stuff, but only in patches...

On Monday evening though, a few of the lads in the pub were in agreement with me. By that stage, anger and disappointment had been replaced by introspection and a colder, harder perspective than 24 hours earlier when their blood was a lot warmer

Clare lost their shape but they also seemed to lose their way.

Hopefully the good times are starting to roll again for Clare.

It puts pressure on Johnny that he doesn’t need around situations with Clare players, given that Johnny’s county — Limerick — face the Banner in two weeks.

Are there some cracks appearing in the Limerick aura after Saturday night? I don’t think so.

Clare and Tipp wouldn’t mind a league title but do they really want to risk the wrath of Limerick? 

Both Galway and Limerick will take a lot out of Salthill, while Limerick will probably take a little more.

With the top seven more or less confirmed it's hard to read teams' priorities in hurling's final league round.