This year has been an incredible year for hurling.

The Round-Robin system was introduced to the Munster and Leinster championships and it has come and gone as an overwhelming success. The Munster championship in particular, threw up thrills, spills and everything in between in almost every single match over successive weekends. It was a feast for hurling folk to gorge over and the only drawback from the whole thing was that some teams had to play for four weeks in a row without a break. Given the conditioning and athleticism of these players now, that's a problem but not an insurmountable one, however. We take a look at the various permutations in the provinces, and the potential quarter final pairings to follow.

Munster Championship permutations

The Munster championship all boiled down to Sunday, and eventually it saw two heavyweights in Tipperary and Waterford eliminated. Cork, Clare and Limerick are still standing there and the Munster final pairing will be called after next weekend's round of fixtures. The Munster final can still go three ways but it's basically all riding on that clash of Clare and Limerick. The Munster final will be contested by the following two teams, in the following series of events.

Cork v Limerick (The most likely Munster final pairing as things stand)

• If Limerick beat Clare and Cork beat Waterford.
• If Limerick draw and Cork win.
• If Cork draw and Limerick win.
• If Limerick win and Waterford win. (Cork's head to head record over Clare holds sway)
• If both matches end in draws.

Clare v Limerick

• If Clare beat Limerick and Waterford beat Cork.
• If Clare draw with Limerick and Waterford beat Cork.
• If Clare win and Cork draw - Only if Limericks's score difference stays better than Cork's. The Shannonsiders currently have 14 points to spare on the Rebels.

Cork v Clare

• If Clare beat Limerick and Cork beat Waterford.

Leinster Championship

The Leinster renewal on the other hand, was more predictable but it did still throw up its fair share of entertainment. At the end of it all, it's Kilkenny and Galway who will do battle in the Leinster final in a couple of weeks time. Meanwhile, Wexford will head to the preliminary quarters.

Joe McDonagh Cup

The Joe McDonagh Cup also going went down to the wire and eventually Westmeath and Carlow established themselves as the two that will head to the prelimary quarters. Eyes will gradually be turning to those clashes, the quarters proper and the semis of the All-Ireland championship. We took a look at the potential pairings that will emerge.

Preliminary quarters (Weekend of July 7/8)

This stage is in effect, a round of 16 game. It will see the Joe McDonagh Cup winners and runners up take on Munster's and Leinster's third placed teams. Therefore, it will look as follows. Carlow or Westmeath v Wexford. Carlow or Westmeath v Munster third placed team

Quarter finals (Weekend of July 14/15)

The beaten provincial finalists will take on the victors of the round of 16. Losers of Kilkenny/Galway v winners of Carlow/Westmeath V Munster third place team Losers of Munster final v winners of Carlow/Westmeath V Wexford.