We are in a different league

IN US Presidential elections you have Super Tuesday, when a whole heap gets decided on one day of voting. Well, the Allianz Hurling League will enjoy a Super Sunday this weekend. It has been a very interesting League in the top two divisions, with a particularly amazing set of circumstances in Division 1A meaning all six teams could finish their campaigns on five points. Clare and Waterford have blossomed and despite the former’s setback against Kilkenny, Davy Fitzgerald’s men could get a result against an inconsistent Tipperary in Thurles. With so much to play for there is going to be an extra bite to the matches, which is something we did not foresee when they rejigged the League format. Teams now have fewer games to experiment in, which means managers have to stop messing about and decide on their strongest team. Tipperary and Cork have been the biggest culprits in this regard and Eamon O’Shea, after some strong results early on, has started messing with his Tipperary team again. Jimmy Barry Murphy, too, is guilty of this tweedledumtweedledee carry-on, with players coming in and out. Both managers have had enough games at this stage to decide on their strongest 15. The biggest disappointment for me has been Galway — they are too reliant on Joe Canning. That said, last spring they contested the relegation play-off with Dublin and were unlucky not to end up winning the All-Ireland. They have to travel to Walsh Park to face a Waterford side who were brilliant in the way they recovered from a fivepoint deficit with 10 minutes to go against Tipperary. After all the retirements you feared for their top- flight status but they have been superb. Kilkenny will win the League, though. They are eking out results as only they can and Brian Cody must be very happy with how they have recovered from their poor start. He has discovered a few more young gems and they will be too strong for Cork. The Division 1B final between Dublin and Limerick could be the match of the year. The Dubs are a very solid team and while Limerick have some excellent forwards there are concerns further back. They will drive on, though, as there is a freshness to the team. As there is to the whole League.