Relentless Ballygunner mow down Kilmallock to reach another Munster final

Just once in a while it looks like the linear narrative might have a kink. Ballygunner had already buried Kilmallock once when the Limerick champions somehow brought the deficit from seven points down to one. The tide was dithering, Kilmallock’s blood was up, and suddenly there was a menu of possible outcomes.

And then the multiple-choice disappeared. In the 10 minutes that remained, the All-Ireland champions scored eight points without reply and if it wasn’t for an astonishing double save from Conor Hanley Clarke in the Kilmallock goal, the final margin would have been in double figures. There was no twist; it was just a tease.