The Hurling Snob is often discussed in GAA circles but the Munster Hurling Snob is a different type of beast altogether.
That was seen in all its glory on this week’s OurGame show where presenter Shane Stapleton (Tipperary) and former Limerick star Niall Moran highlighted the value of a Munster SHC medal.
Its value is that big that winning provincial honours this year – Limerick and Clare will contest the final on June 11 – may be of even more importance than an All-Ireland SHC title. Lord bless us and save us!
“Has there ever been a Munster championship as competitive as this? It’s been the best of the round-robin series and the round-robin has superseded anything that came before it. To me this Munster medal is worth more than any one that has ever been won,” Moran said.
“Would you say is a Munster medal, the way this year’s championship has gone so far, does it turn out to be more valuable than an All-Ireland? This is a cod of a championship that ye (in Leinster) are playing in.
“I was above in Galway Saturday evening and I’d say half of them didn’t even know that they had a match on Sunday. It’s totally different, this thing is a religion down here. It’s a rite of passage.
“The scene coming down the Ennis Road yesterday, no different than going over the hill in Thurles, going down to La Bombonera down in Ennis last weekend, it’s incredible what’s happening.
“But again to our detriment, as we discovered down through the years, and that’s even going back to the old system when it was less games, they paid the price for the Munster championships down the road.
“Maybe if we played the All-Ireland first and then the Munster championship after?”
It’s fair to say that Michael Verney (Offaly) was not in agreement but the Munster Hurling Snob is alive and well ahead of a fascinating final between two bitter rivals on Sunday week.
