One simple twist of fate can turn the mood of a summer. While Tipperary and Limerick count down the days to the Munster hurling final, the hurlers from Clare still count the cost of defeat.

Just like a year ago, Tipperary closed the door on Clare's season well before the sun was highest in the sky. And so, after 12 games in two summers, they find themselves with two summers of idle times.

"Well I remember going down to see the Munster final last year," says Clare selector and trainer Louis Mulqueen. "But I didn't plan on going down to watch it again this year. I expected to be involved.

"You're talking about one puck of the ball that changed everything about the last month. We trained like mad for the previous six months just like Tipperary did and then just a puck of the ball separated us. That keeps you down for a little while."

So Mulqueen now finds himself talking about Tipperary and Limerick rather than Clare. No one expected much to separate themselves and Tipperary and he doesn't see a whole lot separating the two teams on Sunday.

"I always felt that whoever won our match would go a long way and Tipperary will be hard to hold back at this stage. You look at Kilkenny and see how they have players able to take over the mantle from DJ Carey if he's not playing well, whether it be Henry Shefflin or Charlie Carter. Tipperary also have the capacity to emulate that.

"And if there was a question mark over the Tipperary backs, then I think they answered that against us. Our defence didn't give their forwards much space and that showed in that they only got 15 points. But if the forwards click then they definitely can do damage."

The likes of Lar Corbett and Eoin Kelly have caught Mulqueen's attention, typifying the sort of young raw talent that these days has become the trend in successful inter-county hurling.

"But I think the strength of the Limerick defence has surprised a few people as well," he notes. "They could have had great difficulties against Cork but Mark Foley was outstanding and the likes of Brian Geary, Ciaran Carey and Clem Smith have been doing very well also."

The two counties, therefore, are not without their similarities. Even the two managers - Nicky English and Eamonn Cregan - both come from successful playing backgrounds with their counties.

"Well Nicky has always proved very shrewd against us and there's no doubt that he knows his stuff. He has the qualities for success and that can make a difference. But Eamonn Cregan has shown as well that if things are going well then he has what it takes.

"Either way, the losing county on Sunday has the cushion of another day in the sun, something that Mulqueen admits he is craving at this stage.

"If someone said to me after losing to Tipperary that we had another game the next Saturday I know my eyes would have lit up. There is the new system coming in next year and hopefully that will mean more games for everyone."