Munster magic must be retained

ANOTHER Munster final passes, and with it, a sense of sadness. Its timing is always at the turn of the year, just after the summer solstice, with the evenings starting to close back on us again.

Thankfully the hurling season hasn’t yet peaked, but the annual battle for Munster is over, a battle that has been well joined, well spread out among the five protagonists, for the past decade especially, with Limerick, Clare, Cork, Tipp and lately, Waterford, all tasting success.

The Munster final is always a fantastic occasion. Sunday was no exception. Through Saturday and Sunday morning the buzz was building, the banter escalating, anticipation mounting. Early to the match, Páirc Uí Chaoimh looked resplendent, the new seating (adjusted, thankfully, after earlier complaints during the League) added colour to what had been a cold, grey uncovered stand area, the whole place was spotlessly clean. And then there was the pitch, absolutely magnificent, a perfectly-manicured sward.