ANTHONY DALY BELIEVES the Munster senior hurling championship still holds a special place in the hearts of hurling folk in the southern province.
Back in March, Clare star Tony Kelly revealed he was open to scrapping the Munster championship in favour of a round robin All-Ireland series.
Then in May the GAA announced plans to introduce a new round-robin phase in Munster and Leinster.
If it gets through a Special Congress, the move means group stages will be introduced to both provinces, with the top two teams in each progressing to provincial finals.
Daly admits it could be the last old style Munster championship, but feels the competition still matters to players and supporters.
“Could well be. Look, I still think the provincial championships are magic and Munster final day, Leinster final day, it’s a great day.
“I heard Tony Kelly saying it doesn’t really matter anymore. I think it would mean a fair bit to Clare people now, since ‘98. The league was nice last year but it was put in context a little bit with having won the All-Ireland three years previous.
“Munster, though, I think there would be a sense with Munster… I suppose we’ve all heard about proposed changes and what they might be. There’ll still be a prize for winning Munster and Leinster I think.”
Clare, Daly’s native county, have a poor record in Munster in recent years. They last appeared in the Munster final eight years ago. Since then, they’ve won just one game in the province.
The former Dublin and Clare boss can’t figure out the Banner’s poor return in Munster.
“I can’t put my finger on that. I never remember a Clare team not wanting to win a Munster championship match. (That’s) being a supporter, a manager or a player. Maybe that real sense of absolute do or die is missing.
“They’d all like to complete the set now (with a Munster medal). But I do think the draw, there’s always a Clare-Limerick thing. Don’t ever underestimate that. Myself and Liam Sheedy were only laughing about it recently.
“Limerick would ate the ground in Thurles to get at Clare and they will and the other way round, if Limerick were favourites, Clare would ate the ground so I’ve seen it, it’s every second year for how many years. I think Clare are probably further down the line and the injuries seem to be coming right as well at home.
“I think, definitely, Clare seem to be coming good on the injury front whereas Limerick are running into a few and they really can’t afford that, fellas like those, (Declan) Hannon or (Diarmuid Byrnes).”
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