WESTSIDE

At the half way stage in the hurling league it seems an appropriate time to take stock of events. After three rounds Tipperary remains unbeaten and well placed to attack the two remaining fixtures – in Mullingar on Sunday to face Westmeath and then the final spin down to Walsh Park the following week for a date with Liam Cahill and the Deise.

Tipperary hasn’t won the league since 2008, which means that Seamie Callanan is the only member of the present panel with a league medal. It’s a glaring omission and won’t it be a shame if players like Paudie and Brendan and Noel slip away into retirement without a league to sit beside all their other trophies.

Okay, no amount of league medals would ever equate to an All-Ireland, but as the second major competition in the sport the league is still a significant prize. Imagine our heroes of the past decade and more sitting back and admiring their achievements from All-Irelands at minor, U21 and senior level to Munster wins and All-Star statuettes and then realising there’s a gap on the sideboard.

Coming from a county once regarded as the league specialists would make that absence all the more pronounced. Without a league the roll of honour is incomplete.....

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