Provincial winners must get just reward

Munster finals between Cork and Tipperary are still magical occasions, but John Allen has serious concerns for the future, writes Jim O’Sullivan.

THE provincial hurling championships risk being downgraded as long as the winning teams are not ‘rewarded’ with a place in the Guinness All-Ireland semi-finals!

John Allen strongly holds this view, and while acknowledging the glamour of ‘traditional Munster finals’ between Cork and Tipperary he can’t help wondering about how long this attraction will remain.