Make no mistake, this was a big let-down for Tipperary

When I was Clare manager, we played Limerick in the league semi-final in 2006 in Thurles. The game went to extra-time but it nearly seemed that both teams were more concerned with losing the match than winning it, writes Anthony Daly.

Anyway, with the second semi-final between Kilkenny and Tipperary having been pushed back by half an hour, ‘Babs’ Keating, who was Tipperary manager at the time, ambled out to watch some of our match.

At one stage, Fr Harry Bohan, who was a selector with us, called me over. ‘Babs wants a word with you,’ he said. I strolled over to the wire. ‘Hi Dalo,’ says Babs, ‘Johnny (Murtagh, the jockey and Babs’ son-in-law) says he’s going to win the 4.40.’ I couldn’t believe it. ‘Will ya go way from me,’ I said to Babs. ‘Jeez, it mightn’t look it, but I’m taking this some way