Brilliant ‘Bonner’ the trump card in Premier pack

When the draw for the 2012 Munster championship was made the vast majority of hurling pundits would have predicted this final and yes, it has come to pass.

It very nearly didn’t though and, surprise, surprise, the team that almost failed to complete the deal was Tipperary. Not once but twice. It’s true that Waterford too nearly didn’t make it, a close call against Clare in the semi-final, but they had gone into that one only as the slightest of favourites and ultimately justified that tag.

Tipperary, however, were expected to romp home against Limerick in the quarter-final and instead got the fright of their lives after Limerick hit them hard and often from the opening bell.