A LIAM DUCK

Tipp boss Sheedy admits 2018 Munster final result still sticks in his throat

DESPITE what was to follow, the last Munster final between Tipperary and Limerick remains a source of regret for Liam Sheedy.

Tipp succeeded Limerick as All-ireland champions that summer but the outcome of that provincial decider stuck in the craw as far as Sheedy and his players were concerned, and was used as fuel for the rest of the championship.

By the 18th minute in the Gaelic Grounds, Tipp’s lead over Limerick was five points, thanks to Seamus Callanan’s opportunist goal.

But by half time they trailed by two points, and by the finish it was 12. Two years later, Limerick are the defending All-ireland champions again, and this time they are looking to make it an historic provincial final treble tomorrow.

“Yeah look, we know we’re against top class opposition,” said Sheedy (right). “We had a chance of a goal to bring it back to a point at about 50 minutes in the 2019 Munster final, and we were completely out-played from there home.

“I’m well aware of the opposition that we face and the danger that they bring. They’re a very, very serious threat when they’re in full flow. But look, we obviously learned from that and had a really good finish to that championship – that was probably our poorest 20 minutes in all of that Championship that year.

“So we know if you have down time against this opposition then they’re formidable. But there’s great belief in our squad, we had a very, very good semi-final victory and we’re really enjoying our hurling.”

Nevertheless Limerick are now the dominant force in the game and it will take Tipperary reaching a level above that displayed in the win over Clare a fortnight ago to get over the line.

Sheedy understands what it will take, but he is in a confident mood ahead of the clash.

“There’s a great gel within the group,” he said. “The competition for places amongst the squad is as good as I’ve ever had, both in terms of making the 15 and making the 26. So I feel we’re in a good place. Will we have to be at our best against this opposition? Absolutely.

“They’re reigning Munster and Allireland champions so we know exactly what we’re facing into.

“But these are the reasons why we do the job. These are the days we want to be playing so from our perspective, this is exactly where we want to be.

“I’d say neutrals and media will say they’re odds-on, it’s a one-way ticket, but for us, we believe that any day we play to our potential, we have the potential to win. And that’s what we’re looking forward to.”

Sheedy is very comfortable with the shape and style his team are playing in and, he says, the next step is to test it against Limerick.

“We believe that when we bring our performance to the pitch we always have a chance of winning and we’ll certainly go there looking to bring a massive performance,” he remarked.

“I think these lads – young and old – the age group and the age profile, there’s a really good togetherness across the panel.

“So from that point of view I’m excited by the challenge. Of course we’ll be fully tested but that’s exactly where you want to be in July.”