‘We’re just blessed to still be there,’ says McCarthy

THE four teams that will contest next month’s Guinness All-Ireland hurling semi-finals may not necessarily be the best, quality wise, but they have been the most consistent all year.

The fact that Kilkenny, Tipperary, Cork and Wexford in that order filled the top four positions at the end of the Allianz National League is seen as a testament to their serious approach to the competition.

Nicky Brennan, chairman of the national hurling committee, regards it as a further validation of the new-style league format introduced this season.