What a disappointment this 2014 hurling championship has been.

It was June 2006, the build-up to the Munster senior hurling final in Semple Stadium between Cork and Tipperary, Lar Corbett was talking about a young neighbour of his.

TIPPERARY manager Liam Sheedy admitted the character of his team will be severely tested in the coming weeks as the dethroned Munster champions look to revive their championship challenge in the qualifiers.

I KNOW every player wants to play in Croke Park, but this being an all-Munster clash, would it not have made more economic sense, for everyone, if Limerick and Tipp had tossed for home venue tomorrow?

THERE was one moment less than ten minutes from the end of the affair in Croke Park yesterday when even the great stadium appeared to take a deep breath.