Dublin’s confidence is returning but Tipp are still cut above
LEADING Limerick by eight at half-time, Galway looked to have promotion within their grasp. Approaching the league in second gear after the All-Ireland celebrations finally caught up with them, though.
They’re still down a few for the quarter-final against Wexford, who have had a very good league run. They’ve been playing at a higher level and with home advantage, can edge it.
The point about Tipperary leaving teams in games when they should be out of sight is well made. It happened again against Cork last Sunday. Michael Ryan will want his players to show more of a ruthless edge against Dublin.
There is more positivity around their camp, with the Cuala contingent still absent. With Danny Sutcliffe coming back to his best form, I expect a spirited performance – even if Tipperary look too strong.
I heard the tongue-in-cheek comments in Offaly that at least we’re glad to have won the toss for home advantage against Kilkenny, whose form has improved since I said Cody wouldn’t win another All-Ireland! I think they will win but Offaly hurling is in a good place.
A match like this will tell the team exactly where it is at. In the other quarter-final, I’ve been impressed with Limerick who are building a very strong squad.
Sean Finn and Diarmuid Byrnes have stood out in defence while Seamus Flanagan made a big impression against Galway.
Clare have been putting out close to a championship team so you have two counties who have designs on the title.
Then there’s the relegation play-off between Waterford and Cork. I know it can be hard to beat the same team twice but Cork look a bit all over the place at the moment. With the likes of Eoin Cadogan and Mark Ellis missing, they’ve looked brittle at the back. Which could be enough reason to slip down into Division 1B.