Emmet Moloney writes for the 'The Irish Farmers Journal' and is a former sports columnist with 'The Kerryman'.

This Sunday’s clashes signify the start of summer as real hurling returns. Emmet Moloney can’t wait...

The championship is officially here on Sunday. Hurling, the real sport of the summer, is upon us with two potential crackers. Of course we have Saturday to enjoy as well – rugby’s last kick before hibernation. And what a kick it’ll be.

There are three dressing rooms I’d love to be in this weekend. The three teams are all underdogs and a fly on the wall in Thomond Park, Croke Park and Semple Stadium would get full value if he listened in.

Thomond will be first and Tony McGahon has a job on his hands here. Leinster looked nothing short of unbeatable last Saturday and beating Munster on their home pitch will put the tin hat on the season of seasons for the European champions. What will he say? “Lads, Northampton pushed them around for 40 minutes but then ran out of petrol. We won’t run out of it today; we have plenty in the tank. Are we going to roll over? Are we?”

He will then probably hand the floor over to the likes of Paul O’Connell who might add a few choice words of his own: “I’m fed up losing to this crowd when it matters. We have a full house out there today and this game matters. This is why we play the game – for days like this. Are we going to stand up today? Are we?”

At this stage, the fly will have moved because the noise levels will be rising. Munster are a proud bunch and this game is right up their street. The questions about their place in Irish rugby right now (below Leinster and only just ahead of Ulster) do rankle. This is a squad used to winning and games like this were once routine victories for the Men in Red. Saturday will be the last day for a few of them, servants like Alan Quinlan and Paul Warwick, perhaps they will have something to say.

Either way, it had better be Sexton-like. In other words, it better work because Munster are up against it. Underdogs at home? Who would have thought it! Up to 12 months ago you could call this a game simply made for Munster; one that would guarantee a performance. Not anymore. The smart money is on Leinster for a reason.

Almost all the money will be on Tipperary this Sunday in Semple. The Cork dressing room will be a strange place. They allegedly love Thurles, they’re Cork and they’re playing the All-Ireland champions. Ambush country? Not really.

Denis Walsh will have plenty of ammunition for his troops: “Lads we bate ’em last year and we got no credit for it. Well bate ’em today and there’ll be no doubt. Who the **** do they think they are? They called it an ambush last year when we took it to them, gave them plenty of it and that’s what we have to do today. We were up for it last year and I’m asking ye now: are ye up for it today? Are ye?”

Again the fly will be moving at this stage. Then Denis will look around at the faces and think: who spoke last year before we hit the field? Sean Óg, that’s who. Why don’t I ask him to speak and – oh. Yes, a Cork team without Sean Óg on the big occasion. They too are up against it. Tipperary are the champions of Ireland and in the league they cruised through the games, rising only for Galway to put them in their place after running Tipp so close last August in Croke Park. New management but the same squad. Tipp don’t do two-in-a-rows is something you hear about the place – but this team are now a little bit clear of the chasing pack. Worthy favourites for the All-Ireland, they will start off on the right foot on Sunday.

Now to the dressing room that attracts me the most – Joe Dooley’s Croke Park dressing room number two. This is where the real shock of the weekend might be plotted. Offaly’s laid-back reputation down through the years does not add up when you consider the All-Irelands and Leinster titles won. Legend would have it that there was a smoking corner in their dressing room and that players were arriving five minutes from the throw-in, having come straight from the pub! Unlikely.

On Sunday they take on the flavour of the month in Dublin, outstanding league champions and a county on the rise. In short, they are made for the Faithful County. Dooley has plenty of material if he needs it.

“Lads, this is Dublin. I never a lost championship match to Dublin. They might be league champions but this is the championship. And we are Offaly. We can beat anyone on our day. Is this our day? Is it?

“We were supposed to be in Parnell Park lads but now they’re after winning a league and they move us to Croke Park. They’re talking about winning All-Irelands, Leinsters, looking at Galway already. Well, have we something to say about that? Have we?”

This one is made for the Dooleys of this world. Certain counties should never be written off and Offaly have revelled in that role. Two years ago this was a game where the shoe would be on the other foot. Offaly’s league was better than people think. The game to win was against Wexford and they won it. Cork and Tipp rolled over against Wexford and as a result Offaly were relegated but don’t forget what Offaly did to Galway last summer. Few counties can turn it on like these guys.

The Dublin that won the league title should win this game with something in hand. If they are serious contenders this summer, then they let Offaly stay with them for 50, 55 minutes before they pull away to win comfortably. If they are serious contenders.

It’s all happening a little quickly for the Dubs. Anthony Daly knows exactly what’s coming on Sunday. Offaly will tear into them. Dalyo knows it because Clare teams used to flourish in games like this, when they were the underdog and when they were the ones expected to roll over. But knowing what’s coming and being ready for it are two different things.

This is the biggest test of his Dublin sojourn to date – managing expectations. Mentally, Dublin must be right because Offaly will be. The fly on the wall will get his money’s worth in Croke Park. If there is a shock to come this weekend, this is where it will happen.To catch Emmet's latest column, get 'The Irish Farmers' Journal' every Thursday...