Who wants to make a Munster final - and who mightn't?

Now that the preliminary quarter-finals are gone, finishing third in Munster is as good as second with a build-up of four weeks as opposed to two to an All-Ireland quarter-final.

Clare’s Munster famine of 28 years is their “K2”, according to Ger Loughnane. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

THE very thought of purposely avoiding a Munster SHC final is sacrilegious to most people.

But let’s bring you back to 2019 when Limerick’s decision not to start Cian Lynch and Graeme Mulcahy against Tipperary in their final round game prompted Irish Examiner columnist Anthony Daly to propose a theory. “I reckon Limerick would have preferred to have gone through as the third team,” he wrote.

Daly's premise was the previous year when Limerick won the All-Ireland after finishing third in Munster and building up a four-game winning run from the preliminary quarter-final.

Not since that year, 2018, have the top three counties in Munster been confirmed and lying so tightly before the final round. Back then, Limerick had five points from three games, one ahead of Clare and Cork. Limerick’s final round defeat to Clare in Ennis accompanied by Cork’s win over Waterford in Thurles saw them drop to third.

Did they take a fall in 2018 and ’19? John Kiely would dispute that – Limerick’s 2019 Munster success was only their second in 23 years, their fourth in 38, but survival is the name of the game in the province. Clare would beg to differ but a cup at the end of it is almost a bonus.

Last weekend, Limerick and Clare joined Cork in staying alive and there is relief. All three have at least another two games and five weeks together look forward to.

And there are some new factors to consider. Now that the preliminary quarter-finals are gone, finishing third is as good as second with a build-up of four weeks as opposed to two to an All-Ireland quarter-final.

Additionally, the proposal to give provincial runners-up home advantage died a death and they are expected to be played in Thurles or Croke Park on the weekend of June 21.

But exactly who is motivated more to make the Munster SHC final on June 7? We analyse the remaining three:

CLARE.

The case for: History – A cause far stronger than the other two. Clare’s Munster famine of 28 years is their “K2”, according to Ger Loughnane. Everest has been conquered but the smaller K2 has proven more difficult to climb. So many of their elder statesmen have lost five Munster SHC finals. It is the itch to scratch. Whatever happens after that, so be it.

Limerick – Save for a qualifier in 2021, Clare’s SHC record against Cork has been excellent since ’19 (five wins from seven meetings). It’s Limerick who haunt them because of those three consecutive Munster final defeats. A Munster title is a Munster title but if Limerick are the team they have to vanquish in a showdown, it would be extra special.

The case against:  Long grass – It’s a tenuous one given what a Mick Mackey Cup would mean to John Conlon, Tony Kelly et al, but Clare thrive when attention is elsewhere. More hours of podcasts spent on Cork v Limerick would be music to their ears.

CORK.

The case for: The manager – Cork may not have hoisted full sails in the Division 1 final against Limerick but Ben O’Connor knows a successful defence of the Munster title would set them up nicely for an All-Ireland semi-final. Silverware is important after Cork landed two pieces in 2025. One win in normal or extra-time in their last seven finals (NHL, SHC) is a record to improve.

Home advantage – Beat Clare and it will be Limerick in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Cork have not won a Munster title on home soil since 2014. What a send-off that would be before heading to Croke Park.

The case against: Injuries – While Limerick have a clean bill of health and Clare have a few walking wounded from Thurles last Saturday, Cork could be down four players this Sunday. Ciarán Joyce is out for the season and while Rob Downey (ankle) is on his way back, captain Darragh Fitzgibbon is absent following an appendix operation as is Robbie O’Flynn with a hamstring problem. "Next man up" is the mantra but Cork may need some time to heal. A quarter-final could be a stepping stone to a strong recovery.

LIMERICK.

The case for: Little choice otherwise – Avoiding a Munster final is out of Limerick’s hands. They could lose to Tipperary in TUS Gaelic Grounds and a win for Cork would see Kiely's side eclipse Clare on the head-to-head differential. Besides, four of Limerick’s five All-Irelands have followed provincial successes. They like finals. Under Kiely, they have yet to lose one in normal or extra-time.

Revenge – So long as Cork get a result against Clare, Limerick will have a chance to get back at them for the recent round-robin defeat not to mention last year’s Munster final defeat. Cork have defined Limerick's last two seasons.

The case against: Fear of being second – Like Clare, it’s a weak one and they would hardly contemplate being on the wrong side of a Munster final for the second year in a row, but the rigours of the 2025 decider sure knocked the stuffing out of them.