Munster Hurling Wide Open Predict Sunday Game Panel – ryan

A week may be a long time in politics, however, one April Sunday afternoon can provide a very long time when it comes to predicting the outcome of the Munster Hurling Championship.

Following years of limerick domination, Clare would be crowned all Ireland Champions in 2024, while Cork were busy coming through to dominate this year’s Allianz Hurling League.

And it led to the rebels being widely considered the favorites to dominate the province of the 2025 Munster and Subserequent All Ireland Championship.

It all began in Earnest this afternoon, with the first game a repeat year’s all-Ireland final as Cork traveled to Ennis Looking to make an early statement against the reigning champions, Clare.

It looks very much like the form book would ring true as cork skirted to a 2-15 to 0-09 lead by half time, however, the banner roared back in the second half, to close the 12-point gap and secure a draw to open their campaign.

It was followed by limerick and tipperary, which also ended all square at semple stage highlighting the competitive nature of the competition and its exciting round robin format.

And suddenly, it’s all to play for in munster as the big four could not be separated, with Waterford waiting in the wings, eager to get in on the action, which starts for the deise at home to clare next Sunday.

“I think it definite is (wide open) and it makes for a really interesting championship,” said Former Tipp Manager, Liam Sheedy, Speaking on the Sunday Game.

“Tipping to cork, they’ll have learned a lot from the league final defeat, and they’ll be buoyed by their performance today.

“Waterford, with Clare Coming to Town Next Weekend, if they get a result that puts them on two points.

“And cork in that second half still have a lot of questions to answer. We all said it’s going to be cork and limerick and let’s see who follows them in third position, but I think everyone will be thinking a little bit differentive tonight.”

“(Cork Boss) Pat Ryan will be really concerned about the bench impact. For the second week in three, they haven’t delivered.”#Regaa
📺rté2 & rtéplayer pic.twitter.com/heu7qbfg4f

– The Sunday Game (@thesundaygame) April 20, 2025

And Sheedy believes that Cork Manager Pat Ryan has some concerns to address in relation to the strength of the Squad in depth as a result of the second half collapse in Ennis, where Clare powered their way back from the brink to grab a share of the spoils.

“It’s a big concern for cork,” said Sheedy. “They brought on four forwards who spent a collective 80 minutes on the pitch up front and only scored one point between them. And it was similar in the league final.

“So Pat Ryan will be really concerned about the bench impact. For the second week in three, they haven’t delivered.”

While limerick were expected to open with a win against tipperary, they were also hauled in with the home side grabbing a vital point in front of their home crowd in Thurles.

However, there is no cause for concern, according to fellow the Sunday game pundit, Neil McManus who believes that John Kiely’s all-conquering side will once again be involved at the business end of the championship.

“We have to remember that they drew, they were not beat, there will be no panic in limerick. John Kielly will not be panicking,” said McManus.

“We’ve blessed this movie before where they are not brilliant in their first game of munster and then they find their rhythm and get to croke park and start blowing people away.

“They have deterragh o’donovan to come back, declan hannon to come back, then morrissey to come back. They are three incredible players

“And they weren not actually outbattled, tipperary just got to the same level as limerick, which surprised a lot of us.

“Things will be obviously analyzed, but limerick will still be an unbelievable force to be reckoned with come the back-end of this championship.”