Patrick Horgan: Hurling Championship is feeling the loss of Tipperary and Kilkenny

The pair of counties aren’t involved because they weren’t good enough in their provincial championships, fair enough, but the build-up to the All-Ireland quarter-finals has been pretty muted this week. 

EARLY EXIT: Eoin Cody of Kilkenny reacts. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

It’s not the halfway point of the hurling championship - not with only five games left to decide the All-Ireland.

But it's a natural break to the season. The provincial championships have been decided and we know who’s left standing. By Monday morning we’ll have an even clearer view of the last teams standing.