Form is clearly temporary in hurling. If the bookmakers are to believed, the 100% 2019 Munster SHC record Tipperary bring to Limerick on Sunday is of no consequence and will be broken.

Limerick manager John Kiely yesterday dismissed Clare suggestions that his side could have done more to beat Tipperary in the last round of the Munster SHC, a result which would have sent the Banner through to the All-Ireland series.

It says everything about how imbalanced the senior hurling championship is that Limerick could be on the back of three losses after the Munster final and still be in an All-Ireland quarter-final.

Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy is confident the void left by cruciate victim Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher can be filled, even if the 29-year old had been “in full flow” this summer.

Watching both teams warming up, I zeroed in on the goalkeepers.

Tipperary forward Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher acknowledged Conor Gleeson’s red card affected Waterford’s performance in Sunday’s Munster SHC clash, but added that Tipp have “got our flow back, which was very positive.”

One cannot but be struck by hurling’s ability to evoke a reversal of fortunes, not to mention opinions.

Another afternoon of liquid wristwork and fluid movement from Tipperary yesterday put Waterford to the sword with commendable economy.

Summer hurling’s opening weekend threw up killer lines.

The composition of Liam Sheedy’s first championship team selection since returning as Tipperary manager will draw on it, the eyes of the hurling world.

The summer game always looks strange when the players’ breath is visible in small clouds at every facemask.

Michael Breen would have started for Tipperary against Cork yesterday but for a freak injury which will rule him out for at least four weeks.

Michael Breen would have started for Tipperary against Cork yesterday but for a freak injury which will rule him out for at least four weeks.

Limerick 1-23 Tipperary 2-14: After giving a post-match TV interview, Limerick captain Declan Hannon was jumped on by a group of celebrating supporters.

Tipperary’s three-time hurler of the year nominee Seamus Callanan made his long-awaited return to training in Thurles on Tuesday evening.

DIT 0-19 UCD 0-17: On the face of it this is a big boost for Dublin hurling as two colleges who have never reached the Fitzgibbon Cup final hammer it out in the semi-finals next week and the appearance of either DIT or DCU in the decider will be hailed in the capital.

We’ll get to the game itself, a claustrophobic grapple to put you in mind of a crocodile trying to drown a water buffalo, but there’s only one starting point for discussing yesterday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final, writes Michael Moynihan.

We’ll get to the game itself, a claustrophobic grapple to put you in mind of a crocodile trying to drown a water buffalo, but there’s only one starting point for discussing yesterday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final.

Clare 3-16 Tipperary 0-28: Tipp’s experience was a significant factor in their three-point win over Clare in last Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final, the reigning All-Ireland champions hitting decisive scores in the closing stages of both halves to land a semi-final berth.

Tipp’s experience was vital in Páirc Uí Chaoimh today as they showed all their nous to edge out Clare in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final, hitting five points in the closing stages for a three-point win, writes Michael Moynihan.

Tipperary look to have ended Ger Cunningham’s reign as Dublin senior hurling team manager.

There was a positive end to a forgettable weekend for the Tipperary hurlers last night with confirmation All-Star corner-back Cathal Barrett has avoided cruciate knee ligament damage.

I was 23 when first nominated for an All-Star, the Sparrow, Ger O’Loughlin, and myself heading to the Burlington together for one of the biggest nights in the GAA calendar.

Waterford 5-15 Galway 0-14: A coronation they wanted. A coronation they received.

John Doyle, not long before he passed away in December 2010, made an intriguing remark about 21st-century hurling.

It should be remembered that John O’Dwyer was the main forward for Tipperary in their victory over Waterford last year, writes Donal O’Grady.

Tipperary 2-17 Offaly 1-15: Michael Ryan declared himself pleased with his first outing in charge of Tipperary’s senior hurlers, as the Premier County scored a five-point victory over Offaly in yesterday’s Templemore challenge outing.

No surprises what Colm Callanan was focusing on after Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final.

It was without doubt the game of the year. The picture of the Tipp players prostrate on the ground as Galway celebrated said it all. The Premier came up just short and Galway won because they stubbornly refused to be beaten.

I was impressed by how comfortable Tipperary were against Waterford in the Munster final. 

On the way home from Dublin last week, Niall Gilligan stopped off to break the journey in Francis Loughnane’s old pub in Roscrea, which is now run by John Carroll.

Longford were forced to engage Kildare in battle in their surrogate home ground of Cusack Park in Mullingar on Saturday evening.

Patience, asserted Eamon O’Shea, was the key to unlocking Waterford’s much vaunted counter-attacking system and delivering Tipperary a first Munster crown under his watch.

Tipperary 4-23 Limerick 1-16: Did we see the All-Ireland finalists yesterday?

1. Tipp have moved up a gear