After the sheer excitement of the last few weeks, GAA fans can almost take a breath this weekend with only one potentially spine-tingling hurling clash in Munster, one dead rubber and the Connacht football final.

Last weekend there were 15 championship matches between football qualifiers and hurling, this Sunday there are just three.

Mind you, two of them should draw huge crowds. Cusack Park is already sold out for Clare and Limerick and this is where all the hurling focus will be. With both counties on a high after recent results, the winner of this qualifies for the Munster final. A draw would be enough to see Limerick there, all of these assumptions based on Cork beating Waterford.

Euphoria/ch>

The feeling in Clare right now is one of euphoria. Last Sunday’s epic win in Thurles was as rare as it was spectacular. The Banner don’t do that to other counties, arrive at the death and steal the win, it usually happens to us in reverse. As victories go that one was huge. The Clare support was visible and vocal in Semple Stadium, it will be again in Cusack Park.

This is why Sunday’s game will be so special. The ground will be full all the way around. We won’t have big gaping, empty terraces or gaps in the stand. Like memorable times of the past, these will be claustrophobic championship conditions.

Between now and Sunday we will be preaching about how Limerick don’t like coming to Ennis, all in the hope that they believe it!

They will travel in huge numbers and they too will take to the field with a confidence born out of winning. After Galway they have been the best side in the championship, they are to date the most complete side in Munster.

The deepest squads tend to win competitions run off in short time frames and Limerick are proving their resources are decent. Shane Dowling was looking for a way to get back into the side, having been a fixture there since 2012, he got his chance in the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday and he took it. He looks to have the starting jersey back, but knows he must keep producing to keep it.

That competition for places is the healthiest sign of a team going places, which Limerick are. They look to be superbly conditioned, are playing clever hurling yet still bringing the traditional heart their best championship sides always had.

With my Clare cap on this is not a huge surprise considering that Joe O’Connor (strength and conditioning) and Paul Kinnerk (coach) are key men in their backroom. Both were crucial to Clare’s All-Ireland success in 2013, the knowledge gained there is paying off for their native county.

So we can expect Limerick’s performance levels to remain high. They will work the ball a little more than they used to, Cian Lynch will look to orchestrate attacks with that natural instinct of his, their strong forwards will seek out space and points from distance. Their smallest player Graeme Mulcahy has been a revelation this summer, his work rate epitomising their team ethic. The first line of defence for any serious team is their full forward line, Limerick’s attitude is spot on there.

So they are worthy favourites for this titanic clash ... but you know, they don’t like coming to Ennis!

Facing them is a team rediscovering its mojo. Clare hadn’t gone away after 2013, it just felt like it. We’re still not getting the most out of a couple of potential match winners like Tony Kelly, Conor McGrath and possibly Shane O’Donnell on the scoring front, but we have Podge back.

His re-emergence as a hurling star in the second half in Thurles was such a welcome one because the impishness that a lively Podge Collins brings to the field is infectious and very effective. Hurling needs players with creativity and inventiveness like Podge and Cian Lynch to counter a lot of the blunt power on show, but maybe that’s the purist in me talking!

Sunday in Ennis (did I mention Limerick don’t like it there?) will be the atmosphere of the year so far. I’m expecting electricity from start to finish. When the power is turned off, both will still be standing, Clare a little taller I hope!

Meanwhile in Thurles we have the dreaded game that doesn’t matter. Except it does. Derek McGrath has already flagged it as Brick Walsh’s ‘testimonial’. It will also be the manager’s last hurrah and he deserves a proper send off. Derek McGrath’s honesty and humility has been a very welcome part of the last five hurling campaigns. You might have disagreed with some of his tactical innovations, but his grace when losing and winning was a mark of the man. He’ll be missed.

With nothing to lose the Déise should produce something for about 50 or 60 minutes, but when all is said and done, Cork surely will see it out. The campaign to get the Munster final in Pairc Uí Chaoimh can begin in earnest then!

Connacht clash

The Hyde might be full too on Sunday for the Connacht football final. Thanks to the excitement generated by the hurling championship, the football equivalent hasn’t really taken off yet. A Roscommon win might spark it into life though.

They’re capable and might do just that. A bit like Limerick, Galway don’t like travelling to the Hyde!

Rugby boys must front up again

Watching Ireland and Australia last Saturday morning you would almost have your hands over your eyes, fearful for players such was the ferocity of the exchanges. This was a physical step up from the Six Nations and we are fortunate no player suffered serious injury. There is, however, still two games to go.

If Ireland are genuine contenders to win the World Cup next year then we probably have to show that on Saturday in Melbourne. Joe Schmidt will have to go with close to his best 15 at the start.

It’s important his side can show the ability to turn it around in seven days and beat a Southern Hemisphere side away from home. That is what this tour is about, being able to inflict our game on another nation with equally realistic ambitions next autumn in Japan.

The coach could have taken a weakened squad, could have gone somewhere else, but when this tour was planned, it was for a specific reason.

With faith in Schmidt and his squad, expect Ireland to be much more tactically aware. Don’t be surprised if there are some markers laid down early either because it should be another bruising 80-odd minutes.

An Irish win would be up there with beating England in Twickenham in March and it is well within our scope. While most pundits might suggest it is the Aussies who will come on for last Saturday’s win, I’m in the other camp. We will learn, we will cope and we will win.