Christy O'Connor: The numbers show Munster hurling stretching away from Leinster

Whether Leinster hurling supporters like it or not, they can’t deny that Munster has become the main show in town.

Cork’s Ciaran Joyce breaks away from Kilkenny’s Walter Walsh in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Semi-Final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. INPHO/Ken Sutton

Thu, 21 Apr, 2022 - 13:24

Christy O'Conner is a former top-level goalkeeper turned acclaimed hurling writer, with an intimate and unique understanding of gaelic games.

It’s never been in Ger Loughnane’s nature to hold back and not to tell it as it is. In his newspaper column on Monday, Loughnane described last Saturday’s Galway-Wexford clash like “a junior game compared to the two matches in Munster”.

The comments would have unquestionably caused a stir for anyone willing to take offence in both camps, and both counties. It was an isolated match. It’s still only mid-April. The weather was poor. The pitch was soft. The end-game was still laced with high-wire drama.