This much we know: Waterford are dead, Clare are on life support. To take the third qualifying spot next Sunday from the Munster Hurling Championship, the Banner must beat Cork and hope Limerick at least draw with Tipperary. That would knock Cork out on the head-to-head.

This intro was written during the week rather than yesterday afternoon, and not for the sake of having one already baked in the event that yer man in North Korea decided to rain fire and fury down on top of the one world leader who has taken to making him look vaguely sane.