The big thing question I have ahead of tomorrow’s National League hurling semi-finals is who wants to win the competition the most this year?

While lesser lights will be hoping to get back in the big time, Cork and Clare are fighting to stay there

Before I go into a round-up of this year’s Allianz Hurling League, I’d like to comment on events in Nowlan Park yesterday — great to see the physicality, from both teams, and easy to see there was a lot at stake.

This is the most exciting National League I can remember in any format.

Coming into this game I gave Clare a great chance to win for two reasons: I didn’t think Kilkenny were impressive against either Tipperary, Galway or even in their win against Waterford; Kilkenny were missing so many front-line players.

As we head into the fourth weekend of Allianz Hurling League action, a pattern is beginning to emerge. More and more teams are playing the possession game of short stick-passing.

It may not have been great hurling in this club final yesterday but the weather had a lot to do with that.

What odds would you have got on Kilkenny being the only team in Division 1A without a point after two rounds?

Three derby games in the league this weekend. In Ennis we have Clare and Galway, in Dungarvan it’s Cork and Waterford, and in Semple Stadium Tipperary face Kilkenny.

On my way to Galway yesterday I was thinking, what a perfect day for a game, real hurling weather.