Dead men walking?

Some of the summer’s favourites may already be scampering for survival by the first week of June

May 27: Tipperary v Limerick, Munster SHC quarter-final, Thurles

In the context of the controversy surrounding Ciaran Carey’s exit as selector and Seamus Hickey’s injury in Limerick, Tipperary would appear to be the land of milk and honey. It ain’t. Lar Corbett’s return to the panel had undoubtedly given the camp a major boost ahead of Sunday week, but things have been rocky these past few weeks. A clear-the-air meeting was needed following a most disappointing Division 1 semi-final defeat to Cork. Tipperary have also been struggling to find the net and some key players have been slow to rediscover form this season. If there’s one team with limited reverence for Tipperary, it’s Limerick. They will be riled by talk among pundits that a Cork-Tipperary semi-final date by the Lee is almost written in stone. Should Declan Hannon be fit and able for Semple Stadium, John Allen will have at his disposal an exciting and youthful axis that have the ability to send a shockwave across the hurling firmament.