DJ Carey doesn't subscribe to the view that teams have a better chance of winning the All-Ireland by coming through the backdoor.

Cork's crushing 1-11 to 2-18 loss to Tipperary means the last three Munster champions have lost at the penultimate round stage, with Limerick and Tipp having suffered a similar fate in 2013 and 2012 against Clare and Kilkenny respectively. Indeed, six of the last eight Munster champions have failed to progress to the All-Ireland final - a record which is being attributed to the five-week gap between the provincial final and All-Ireland semi-final.

But writing in the Irish Daily Mirror today, Carey argues that the long break has never hindered his native Kilkenny.

"The five-week layoff since the Munster final clearly had an impact on Cork's display and we've seen it, year after year, where teams have been stale coming into semi-finals after winning a provincial title," he states.

"But Kilkenny have generally managed that time after time and maybe the trick is to start winning your province on a regular basis so you know how it's done.

"I'd still rather go the direct route and play as few matches as you can by winning your province, playing off a few club fixtures and then approaching the semi-final with renewed vigour." Tweet

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