SOARING TEMPERATURES AND heart-rates were a constant feature of another thrilling weekend of Championship action.
Limerick bridged a 17-year gap to take the Munster Hurling Championship, Dublin were made to work by Meath but powered their way to a 52nd Leinster Football title. And as if that wasn’t enough excitement, we’ve been handed a classic encounter in the form of Cork v Kilkenny in the All Ireland hurling qualifiers.
Before we get way, way ahead of ourselves though, it’s time to look back on the weekend that was.
End of an Era?
In 1993 Tony Browne was part of a Waterford side that lost to Kerry in the Munster championship. On Saturday night, two decades on, Browne played as a 40 year-old against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland qualifiers. Is that the last time we’ll see the great Mount Sion man in inter-county action?
Maybe the start of a new one
Super sub of the weekend
Cathal McInerney scored 2-1 off the bench for Clare to help them see off Wexford by 3-24 to 1-20 after extra time in a thrilling contest in Semple Stadium.
Surprise guests of the weekend
This Indianapolis hurling panel were on a pilgrimage to Thurles on Saturday.
Ruff justice
It’s a dog’s life for the men of Louth as they begin planning what to do with the rest of their summer. The Wee County were well in contention against Kildare until a late Tomas O’Connor goal gave the Lilywhites all the impetus to go on and claim a 1-19 to 0-15 win.
A gap in TV3′s coverage?
Plenty of people questioned why TV3 did not show extra-time of Clare v Wexford on Saturday. The station was on air from 6.30pm in Thurles to broadcast the meeting of Kilkenny and Waterford which was due to start at 7pm but was then put back until 7.30pm.
The reason they had to stay pitch-side in Semple Stadium is that they’re under contractual agreement to show no more than the nine games they are permitted to by the GAA each year.
Eye-of-the-needle score of the weekend
In the end, it counted for nothing but a great night’s entertainment, but Ray Barry (who scored 13 off the bench against Kilkenny) can be proud of this follow up from a missed penalty.
We count six Cats in his path and another guarding the back post, but Barry finds the only vulnerable spot left to draw the Deise level.
Twitter fell head over heels for hurling on Saturday
Even Brian Cody couldn’t believe what he was seeing
“Our response was truly magnificent.” The legendary manager told TV3. “It’s a credit to both teams.”
GIF credit: Balls
This Kevin Moran point to bring on extra time summed up the beautiful madness of the game
Blue sky thinking
Stephen Cuxton is feeling his age
After scoring three points in Dublin’s 2-15 to 0-14 Leinster SFC final win over Meath, the 31-year-old goalkeeper responded to a suggestion that he looked reluctant to take his side’s last free of the game:
“I was too tired to be honest. It was too warm out there to be running up and down at my age.”
The intense heat at Breffni Park on Saturday was too much for some…
The programme-sellers in Cavan may have wilted in the sun, but on the field tempers rose with the temperatures as Sean Quigley and Shane McCabe walked the line for Fermanagh in their 1-14 to 0-10 defeat to Cavan who had Martin Reilly dismissed.
©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Martin Dunne’s goal and three points proved telling for the Breffni County and they take their place in the qualifier draw.
Meathmen seem much more at home in these temperatures
©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Turning point?
Cork fans traveled home from the Gaelic Grounds feeling aggrieved despite the comprehensive 0-24 to 0-15 loss to Limerick. This red card for Pat Horgan was a crucial moment in the game. Was it deserved? Judge for yourself.
Never mind that, here’s how it feels to win your first Munster hurling title in 17 years.
Man of the match, James Ryan joked afterwards that it was getting hard to move on the field, the crowd had pinned themselves right up to the sidelines. Comhghairdeas Limerick.
Sore thumb of the weekend
This lone Cork fan spotted by RTE’s cameras was regretting his decision to enter enemy territory in full war-paint on Munster final day.
George Formby reference on The Sunday Game? Check.
Joe Brolly reckons Dónal Óg Cusack would look well if he was cleaning windows. Cusack reckons he’s too young to know who either Formby or Brolly are.
Pic: RTE
Talking point
Division 1B finalists in April, both Limerick and Dublin now have been crowned provincial senior hurling champions. There would have been nice odds on that double.
What now for the All-Ireland hurling championship?
Having fought their way this far, Kilkenny must see off their old rivals Cork in the All Ireland quarter final. Dublin and Limerick await in the semis. The other side of the draw has another tantalising clash in the form of Galway v Clare.
The draw for the round three and four of the football qualifiers will take place in the morning.
What did you think of it all?
