Clare need to hit ground running in crucial trip to Tipp

We should have known better.

Surveying the scene ahead of last week's hurling championship throw-in, most observers not unreasonably suggested that the three teams to come out of the southern province would be Limerick, the All-Ireland champions, Cork, last year's runners-up, and Waterford, the form team of the league.

But Munster is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside a sliotar.

The Déise are still well-placed to progress - despite losing to Limerick again last night - but Tipperary's better than expected showing against Waterford and Cork's limp display against the champions have scattered the tea leaves.

Clare and Tipp will meet today thinking that Cork, at least, are now beatable. This game, Clare's first in the round-robin, could be both side's best shot at reaching an All-Ireland quarter-final.

"There's probably a sense now that third is up for grabs and the winner of this game will have a real chance," agrees Darach Honan, a goalscorer when Clare last lifted Liam MacCarthy in 2013.

"Tipp surprised me, even though I know they have plenty of good players. The likes of Jason Forde are still top-class.

"The pitch in Waterford might have helped them. Waterford are so athletic that they maybe excel a bit more in open space."

The Banner's dramatic final-round win in in 2018 was reverentially reported as their first against Tipperary in championship in Thurles in over 90 years. True, but most of the previous meetings had come at neutral venues. The more significant stat was that it was the first time they had beaten their opponents in the top competition since 2003.

"Semple is one of the stadiums that wouldn’t have as much of a home advantage to it because every team plays there," suggests Honan.

"Obviously there will be a big