Cork v Clare: One of the great unfathomables

What did the National League final say about Tipperary’s Munster Championship prospects?

Not a lot. They have the strongest panel and the best pool of forwards and over the course of the round robin those factors will tell. While they’ll never field a forward line comprising Callanan, Forde, O’Dwyer and two McGraths — such a brainstorm would take the concept of a champagne overdose to extremes — they possess more silken attackers than any other team in the country. (Cork come second in that department.) This doesn’t mean a 100% qualifying record is anticipated. That would be pushing it. Michael Ryan’s men may draw one match or lose another. Yet even though the format for the 2018 Munster championship was not drawn up at a secret meeting under the Old Stand at Semple Stadium and bespoke-tailored to Tipp’s strengths and requirements, it might as well have been.

What did the league final say about Tipperary’s All Ireland prospects?