This year’s All-Ireland finalists represent over half of the 45 GAA-GPA All Star hurling nominations with 24, 13 going to champions Kilkenny and 11 to Tipperary.

THE Munster Council’s decision to play the Waterford-Clare hurling tie on the Bank Holiday Monday earlier this week simply “didn’t work”, according to GAA president Christy Cooney.

There are two recurring targets for fans’ anger, week in, week out – ‘The Sunday Game’ and the conditions at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. There is praise for the quality of RTÉ’s preview of the Munster hurling final but disappointment at its scheduling. Things are reported to have improved at the Stadium of Lee, but there’s still a long way to go.

There are two recurring targets for fans’ anger, week in, week out – ‘The Sunday Game’ and the conditions at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Maybe it was the soaking to the skin so many of them got on Sunday in Semple Stadium, followed by the awful hurling inflicted on that hallowed sod, or maybe it’s because of yet another dreary Leinster football tie – this time, between Wicklow and Westmeath - or Donegal’s unexpected collapse against Ulster whipping boys Antrim... but, boy, the fans are really angry with everyone this week.