All-Ireland champions Tipperary are facing a season of being Munster also-rans and an early exit in their quest to defend the Liam MacCarthy according to two men who know a thing or two about the alligator swamp that is the Munster Senior Hurling Championship.
Speaking with Jacqui Hurley on RTÉ’s The Sunday Game, former Clare player Anthony Daly and recently retired Cork forward Patrick Horgan both suggested that an early end to the Premier County’s hurling summer might be on the cards.
After an opening round-robin defeat to Horgan’s former team-mates, whom they defeated in last year’s All-Ireland final – while Horgan was still very much an active player with the Rebels – Tipperary now face more or less a do-or-die trip to Walsh Park to take on a Waterford side who will be emboldened by their showing against Clare, even if their efforts, like Tipp’s, ultimately fell short.
Only three teams can progress from the round-robin stage, the top two finishers will contest the Munster final while the third-placed team will head to an All-Ireland quarter-final against the beaten Leinster finalists.
The public have spoken – but Pa Horgan isn’t fully convinced
Early days though it is, the top three in the table after the first round of fixtures reads Clare-Cork-Limerick and the panellists don’t expect it to look a whole lot different in three games’ time.
Daly gives Tipp some hope – but his fellow analyst Horgan is not so sure.
“Tipp still have a good chance, they have another home game to come,” Daly said.
“It’s massive this weekend going to Walsh Park. If they lose that they’re probably in massive trouble.
“Waterford will give it a fair lash. [Waterford manager] Pete Queally was positive enough there in his interview.”
Horgan, on the other hand, suggested Tipp’s reign will be as short as it gets. Next Sunday’s trip to the Déise might effectively spell the end of the road for whichever team falls on the wrong side of the scoreline.
“I would pick the [current] top three to go through, but I would give Waterford a better chance than Tipp of going through at the moment,” the Corkman said.
“[Waterford] did show something today, but I think Tipp showed very little – and that’s a worry.”
Public asked as to who will not come out of Munster? Anthony Daly and Patrick Horgan have their say and point out the ‘massive’ game between Waterford and Tipperary next weekend #rtegaa #sundaygame pic.twitter.com/CtMcu2ij4A
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 19, 2026