Anthony Daly: Hurling’s new normal still takes some getting used to

I felt that some of the commentary on the opening day action last weekend was harsh

MANIC INTENSITY: Waterford’s Patrick Curran sees his path to possession blocked off by Cork’s Billy Hennessy, centre, and Mark Coleman in last Sunday’s Allianz HL Division 1 Group A game at Páirc Ui Chaoimh. Cork had a point to prove after last year’s Munster semi-final defeat to the Déise. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

At times on Twitter, I think lads reckon that I’m Paddy Power. They’re always on looking for betting advice or tips in predicting the outcome of hurling matches, as if I’m Nostradamus, or am working with the best data analytics in the world, which is the sector where many of these betting companies recruit their staff from now.

During the week, this fella sent me a private message, more or less asking me to give him the go-ahead on his three-way bet for the weekend. ‘I’m going with Cork and Galway and for Clare to bounce back and beat Wexford.’ The advice I gave him back certainly wasn’t what Paddy Power would be listening to when setting the match-day odds. ‘You might as well toss three coins up in the air,’ I replied.