Dublin finally make the breakthrough and get back into the Leinster final for the fist time since 91. Anthony Daly is doing a great job with them this year and all the underage success of recent times bodes well for the future. They mightn’t have much chance against Kilkenny in the final, bu they’re still guaranteed an All Ireland Quarter Final spot and anything could happen there.

Kilkenny and Galway served up a great game. Galway should be happy enough, even though they lost they showed they could mix it with Kilkenny, they can have a physical edge to their game, and they should be able to negotiate their way through the qualifiers. Only issue I’d have with this game is that it was too physical almost, the game seems to be going that way. There are countless blatant fouls like trips, pushes and jersey pulls being let go because the ref wants some flow to the game. And no doubt plenty of people are wondering what a Kilkenny player has to do to get sent off! As one caller to a radio show suggested, they might have to behead someone first!

Waterford and Limerick got back to good hurling after the previous week’s mess although that won’t be much consolation to Limerick. John Mullane looks like he’s on for another great year.

Tipperary are an enigma at times. They should have been out of sight mid way though the game instead it came down to the wire. That was a brilliant attempt by Colin Ryan with the long range free at the end for Clare. Looked like it was headed for the top corner until Cummins made another top drawer diving save.

The qualifier structure this year is bizaare. The beaten semi finalist have to play each other before the winners play first round losers. There’s no logic to it. Anyway the draw is (with homefield advantage to the first named):
Phase 1:
Offaly v Cork and Laois v Antrim
Phase 2:
Clare v Galway and Wexford v Limerick.

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