I won't be going down a TV rights rabbit hole in this column, so bear with me.
The debate around it this week has been head-spinning between GAAGO, paywalls and bad wifi.
When politicians are queuing up to have their say, you know that it’s gone to a different level.
Micheal Martin may have been the first of the political classes to wade in, but it was his fellow Cork man, Donal Og Cusack, that set the ball rolling on Sunday night, just when Bren and the Kinsellas thought they would be trending all by themselves on social media as the Kin series had a dramatic climax.
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Fair play to Donal Og for setting the agenda on it.
But while it is positive that the debate is being had and it will likely result in a better balance between what is free-to-air and behind a paywall, that won’t kick in until next year. So that’s it for now, really.
It was Clare’s great victory over Limerick, which was available on GAAGO only, that first set tongues wagging on this issue and it is to the Banner that I will turn to now.
There is something of a love-hate relationship between Limerick and Clare and the tension has only been ratcheted up by Limerick’s success in recent years, no more than it would if Clare were dominant.
Things like the analysis on the night of last year’s Munster final, when I was accused of being biased, all go into the mix too and, for that reason and others, it would be easy for me to turn a blind eye to Clare.
I have been on the receiving end of a lot of commentary from Clare folk over the past couple of years and when you put yourself in a TV studio, you have to be prepared to take that.
But where credit is due, I have no problem doling it out, to Clare or any other county. And credit is certainly due to them right now.
It’s not too long ago when there was little but negativity about Clare from their own people. It was reported as recently as October 2021 by the strategic plan group in the county that their training facility in Caherlohan was “not fit for purpose”, while the then county secretary was being criticised from nearly every angle.
For all the world, it looked to be a total mess. So, what has changed in the meantime?
Well, Donal Moloney has had a massive part to play in it. He has put structures in place at underage level to ensure that there are quality hurlers coming through, with all the right coaching and S&C behind them.
People talk about academies and, yes, Limerick’s is very good, but the lazy commentary around that points to money, which is not what it’s about.
It’s having the right people with a vision and determination to do things right, while leaving their ego at the door. That’s what Clare have done.
They’ve won the Munster minor title this year having been beaten on penalties in last year’s final. They’re in the Munster under-20 final. Many of the Dean Ryan Cup team in Ardscoil Ris is backboned by Clare players.
And they have a senior team that was the first to turn Limerick over in Championship hurling in four years.
Of course, there is no guarantee of senior silverware arising from all this, but it gives you the best possible chance. Other counties should take a look at them.
They have come from being on the floor in 2021 to now being well organised, well structured, having very competitive teams, with some silverware to back it up and the possibility of more to come. Trust me, it’s not a coincidence.
Stakes high on either side of the sideline in Thurles tomorrow
It may be round-robin in name but it’s knockout in nature in Thurles tomorrow evening, certainly as far as Waterford are concerned.
It’s a massive game. Lose to Clare and Waterford are out. Win and they give themselves a chance.
But the stakes are high for Clare too as defeat will send them towards the exit door.
The Waterford players should hardly need managing ahead of this game as they should be straining at the leash after their capitulation against Clare last year.
Then you have the Davy v Lohan factor. I can only imagine Brian Lohan this week, knowing that a win for his side will sicken a former teammate with whom his relationship has soured completely.
I’d love to have a seat behind the two of them. I expect they’ll both be rather wound up.
They’ve kept their distance on the line over the years but the stakes are so high tomorrow evening, I wouldn’t be surprised if sparks fly.
Dublin-Wexford game light years off Munster fare
The Leinster Championship seems to be way off the standard in Munster at the moment.
Yet, we’ve said that in previous years only for the encounters between teams from either province in the All-Ireland series to be close affairs.
But let’s be honest - last Saturday’s Dublin-Wexford game was really poor. The intensity was on the floor.
Wexford had 50-odd shots. Leave aside the fact that they missed so much - what were Dublin doing to allow them so many chances? You wouldn’t get that in a bad training match.
It was so far off what you would expect for Liam McCarthy Cup hurling.
Darragh Egan said afterwards that Wexford’s fate is still in their own hands. I admire his positivity but who could see them beating Kilkenny? I know they did it last year but it’s a big ask on current form.
Anyway, it’s all the one whoever gets third in Leinster as I can’t see Wexford or Dublin going beyond an All-Ireland quarter-final.
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