Munster championship has to be about more than yesterday’s turn-off

I’ve often wondered about GAA teams’ approach to big games when compared to the marquee rugby sides. The GAA boys tear out of tunnels like they’ve just broken out of prison after being locked up for 20 years. The rugby boys walk out, often holding the hands of mascots, appearing like they’re heading for a tea-party before turning into savages.

I got that feel about Cork yesterday when they came out under the Kinnane Stand. They walked out. They just casually sat on the bench for the team photograph before going about their warm-up. There seemed to be an edge about them. ‘Hi, hold on a minute,’ I said to myself, ‘These boys look like Munster in they heyday. They must be ready to hit anything that moves.’

How wrong I was.