Galway to halt rising Banner

CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 has been the best for many in living memory and as we approach the sharp end of affairs, three Munster counties stand between Galway and back-to-back titles for the first time in some 30 years.

The provincial structures have proved a major hit, delivering classics on an almost weekly basis, even if tweaks are needed to avoid the handicap of playing three weeks in-a-row, as well as ditching same-day provincial finals and to reunite the All-Ireland quarter-finals on the same double-bill.
Focusing on the positive, Munster threw up one humdinger after another.
Waterford’s summer, and Derek McGrath’s reign with it, was over before it began with an injury crisis to end all injury crises.
Tipperary were sluggish and uninspired and gone by mid-June leaving Cork, Limerick and Clare to emerge from the shark-infested waters down south.

Don't miss our full preview of this weekend's All-Ireland hurling semi-final in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald