Upsets unlikely, but Antrim and Kerry should attack the weekend

It's fair to say that very few people are expect anything other than wins for Cork and Wexford in this weekend’s All-Ireland hurling preliminary quarter-finals.

Of course there is always a chance, and you only have to cast your mind back a few weeks when we all predicted Wexford would beat Westmeath. The Yellowbellies will have learnt from that drawn encounter, while the Rebels will just want to land at Corrigan Park, get the job done and move on.

Regardless of what transpires on Saturday, it’s really unfair on both Kerry and Antrim that they are back out just a week after the Joe McDonagh final.

The Joe McDonagh is their All-Ireland, it’s what they go out to win every year, and anything extra is bonus territory.

Reaching the final is a significant feat and you’d imagine that Antrim celebrated the win, while the Kerry lads would have drowned their disappointment.

Granted both have home advantage, which is a boost, but when you look at the preparation that both counties are getting compared to Wexford and Cork, they are on the back foot straight away.

Furthermore, I couldn’t help but notice who was missing at the launch of the All-Ireland hurling series. There was representation from Limerick, Wexford, Cork, Clare, Galway and Kilkenny. There was no player from Antrim or Kerry.

Maybe there is a plausible reason for this, but looking in from the outside, I think it is extremely disappointing and embarrassing if only those six players were asked to attend.

I can't see Darren Gleeson or Stephen Molumphy putting a stop to a player going, and when you talk about trying to promote hurling in counties, this is one way of doing it. They have earned the right to be in the Liam MacCarthy Cup as much as the other counties and it’s not a good