Minnows may provide the thrills in Purcell Shield

Galway and Royal Dublin’s Barton Shield sides will provide the high quality golf in today’s AlG Cups and Shields National finals but all the excitement may well come from the minnows in the Pierce Purcell Shield semi-finals at Carton House.

Looking at recent history, Thurles must be firm favourites for the title as the last four All-Irelands have headed to Munster with Newcastle West and Woodstock winning in 2011 and 2012 before Spanish Point completed back-to-back victories in 2014.

Thurles went down to the Clare men in last year’s Munster decider but gained revenge in this season’s provincial semi-final when they ended Spanish Point’s dreams of three-in-a-row.