Monday morning’s All-Ireland hurling qualifier draw has thrown up a feast of hurling action for next weekend and we simply can’t wait to see how it pans out.
Three of 2016’s last four teams standing were been dumped out of their respective Provincial Championships in their first rounds of 2017.
Tipperary, Kilkenny and Waterford, were arguably, the most complete teams in the Championship last year and were widely expected to continue this dominance this year.
Not on Cork’s watch, not on Wexford’s watch, not on Clare’s watch.
It’s a true testament to the sheer unpredictability of modern day hurling that on any given day, any result can happen.
Tipperary, after last year’s swashbuckling triumph, were widely expected to dominate the hurling landscape, and their early league form did lots to supplement this opinion.
Fast forward a few months and they’re struggling over Westmeath in their home grounds.
You just couldn’t script it.
There are so many plots and subplots floating around the hurling world this year. Are Galway set to end a 29-year famine? Have Kilkenny’s last legs finally deserted them? Will Davy Fitz’s exuberant Wexicans bounce back?
Anyway, Monday morning’s draw pitted Brian Cody’s Cats against a confusing Waterford side, who as of yet, haven’t pitched anywhere near as high as last year’s form.
Tipperary have gone from the ridiculous to the sublime in the space of eight months but they’ll surely have enough to overcome Dublin, surely.
If they do, they won’t be facing Kilkenny until an All-Ireland semi-final at the earliest.
At the quarter-final stage, repeat pairings are avoided where possible.
Who will Kilkenny face if they beat Waterford? – Clare or Cork
Who will Tipperary face if they beat Dublin? – Wexford or Clare/Cork (Draw)
Who will Waterford face if they beat Kilkenny? – Wexford, Clare/Cork (Draw)
Who will Dublin face if they beat Tipperary? – Cork, Clare/ Wexford (Draw)
Here are the possible combinations in games.
Kilkenny win, Tipperary win, Cork win = Clare v Kilkenny, Wexford v Tipperary.
Kilkenny win, Tipperary win, Clare win = Cork v Kilkenny, Wexford v Tipperary.
Kilkenny win, Dublin win, Cork win = Clare v Kilkenny, Wexford v Dublin.
Kilkenny win, Dublin win, Clare win = Cork v Kilkenny, Wexford v Dublin.
Waterford win, Tipperary win, Clare win = Draw to decide who Cork and Wexford face.
Waterford win, Tipperary win, Cork win = Draw to decide who Clare and Wexford face.
Waterford win, Dublin win, Clare win = Cork v Dublin, Wexford v Waterford.
Waterford win, Dublin win, Cork win = Draw to decide who Clare and Wexford face.
