Clare look a ballwinner light

Waterford should win but might not. Their main difficulty is their convex tradition against Kilkenny in championship encounters, writes PM O’Sullivan.

Here we go, hard about the real stuff. Hurling has two months and eight teams left. Two counties exit this weekend. Majority opinion says Dublin and Kilkenny. Heavily so, former case; marginally so, latter case.

That text from a friend mentioned in last week’s column proved prescient. Following the initial qualifier draw, he broached Tipperary making an All-Ireland semi-final via defeating Westmeath, Dublin, and Wexford. The Premier crew are short odds for sticking to this route.