What a day of hurling it was.
The Munster championship went the way of Cork while Kilkenny and Galway will do battle again for the Bob O’Keeffe Cup.
Despite a scorched Semple Stadium pitch, the Munster decider lived up to its lofty billing. Clare began like a house on fire with John Conlon delivering a first half performance for the ages.
In the end, Cork’s dangerous blend of experience and youth told as the old heads of Seamus Harnedy and Patrick Horgan combined with the youth of Darragh Fitzgibbon and Mark Coleman to make it two provincial crowns in a row for the Rebels.
In his first season in the Cork hotseat, John Meyler will have to be pleased with that return.
Meanwhile, the Leinster decider couldn’t possibly have been any more different. It was far from the free-flowing, loose hurling of Munster the men of Galway and Kilkenny delivered.
Instead, it was a good, old fashioned tussle with neither team taking a backward step in a ferociously fought out battle. In the end they couldn’t be separated and they’ll go to Semple Stadium next weekend to settle that one.
Only in Ireland https://t.co/rmFdbC8DsK
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 1, 2018
What went under the radar due to some shocking fixture planning by the GAA was the Joe McDonagh Cup final. The decider of hurling’s second tier competition thrown in just fifteen minutes prior to the Munster offering and this visibly took away from the crowd present in Croker to watch the men of Westmeath and Carlow fight it out.
What a win for the men of Carlow #Carlowrising https://t.co/8LqitWTh5V
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 1, 2018
In the end, Colm Bonner’s men made it two wins in a row over their Lake County counterparts. That man James Doyle again proved the difference for the Barrowsiders with 1-1 coming from the stick of the powerful full forward who’s quickly marking himself out as one of the country’s finest.
Up against the well renowned strength and power of Tommy ‘Jogger’ Doyle, the IT Carlow student came out on top in that battle.
Doyle will have a bigger test on the horizon next weekend but he’s met every challenge head on so far.
The Joe McDonagh champions have earned a shot at John Kiely’s Limerick in next weekend’s All-Ireland preliminary quarter final clash. That will be the side’s first ever meeting in the All-Ireland championship.
CONFIRMED – Limerick v Carlow in All Ireland SHC preliminary quarter final next weekend. 1st ever championship meeting set for in Dr Cullen Park Carlow.
Also next weekend Limerick v Galway in All Ireland minor hurling quarter final series.
Fixtures confirmed Monday#GAA ##LLSport— Jerome O'Connell (@JeromeSport) July 1, 2018
Meanwhile, the losers Westmeath will have to lift the heads during the week because they face the unenviable task of taming a wounded Wexford animal.
Davy Fitzgerald’s men should have beaten Kilkenny in the Leinster semi two weeks ago only for a second half capitulation and they’ll be eager to make up for that one here.
These fixture details will be confirmed on Monday.
Cork are the only team through to the last four after they won in Munster. Clare are awaiting the outcome of the above two games for their quarter final draw.
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