Developing hurling is like building a pyramid. When I look at the hurling scene in Kilkenny I get the impression their activities are co-ordinated and energies are channelled into inter-county success, the pinnacle of their pyramid.

Were Cork schools always strong in Munster colleges competitions? How accurate is this perception?

Last Sunday’s Munster club SHC final ebbed and flowed throughout the first half with marvellous commitment, skill and scores.

This showpiece of Cork senior hurling struggled to come to life as a contest in Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

The first point to be made about this game is that the better team won.

In the drawn final Galway were missing the composure necessary to use possession tellingly in counter attacks in the second half.

The battle lines were drawn before the game when Galway showed the fruits of their planning.

Galway’s plans for tomorrow will be simple — get the ball to Damien Hayes and Joe Canning.

The statistic that jumps out from Sunday’s game is the scoreline for the last 25 minutes.

History informs the future.