The key match- ups I think will decide All- Ireland final..
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Often, you just want to as being particularly limit the damage to critical to the outcome.
V CALUM LYONS ( WAT) LYONS picked Hegarty up in the Munster final. Paraic Fanning introduced him last year and he’s a tenacious defender. Good in the air. Tight to his man.
Hegarty has been pivotal for Limerick and is in the running for Hurler of the Year. He has power, pace and can score from anywhere. He simply must be closely marked. Will Lyons follow him down the field? For me, he must sacrifice his own game by sticking to Hegarty rigidly. If Waterford can nullify the Hegarty threat, it’s a potential game- changer. ADVANTAGE: Waterford
V DECLAN HANNON ( LIM) BENNETT is another Hurler of the Year contender. He’s been phenomenal. His work rate is right up there, he’s covering huge ground. Look at the first point he scored against Kilkenny where he brought it from his own 45 and took out six backs. He’s powerful and has a very broad range of skills.
If I was Liam Cahill, I’d put him at centre- forward. He’ll be a massive test for Declan Hannon, who likes to sit and have bodies around him. Hannon could struggle to play the game on his terms if he’s keeping tabs on Bennett. ADVANTAGE: Waterford
V HE had a quiet semi- final but I rate Gillane among the best forwards in the game.
He fashions opportunities out of nothing and is strong in the air. Moreover, he’s deceptive aerially as he can wheel out in front but then catch it behind you.
I expect Shane Mcnulty will be assigned to mark him. He’s tight and tenacious, but it’s a massive test for him tomorrow. ADVANTAGE: Limerick
V HUTCHINSON has been a great find. He has serious pace, a high skill level and an eye for goal. He loves a ball outside him and attacking at speed. How are Limerick going to counteract this?
Finn is the answer, for me. He’s an incredible defender but, in this match- up, he needs to attack the ball because if he plays Hutchinson from behind, there’s only going to be one winner. Finn’s ball control and use of possession is exceptional. It’s a potentially pivotal duel. If Finn dominates it, that’s three or four points gone that Waterford will have to find elsewhere. ADVANTAGE: Limerick
V KIERAN BENNETT ( WAT) ONE of the great imponderables of this final surrounds where Cian Lynch will start. If it’s at No. 11 his direct opponent, in theory, will be Tadhg de Burca but De Burca will be a sitting centre- back rather than a marking one.
Lynch is the ultimate playmaker and his peripheral vision is incredible; he’s one of the most unselfish players in the game. Leaving him free would be reckless in the extreme. I worked with Kieran Bennett in LIT and I’d give him this job, dropping from midfield. But it’s a huge task. ADVANTAGE: Waterford
V DAN MORRISSEY ( LIM) FROM a neutral viewpoint, it’s fantastic to see Austin back to himself. When he’s on form, he’s capable of magic. His workrate is back. It was there under Derek Mcgrath but was missing over the past couple of seasons.
I expect he’ll bring Dan Morrissey all over the place. I’ll be very surprised if he stays at No. 14 but Morrissey is a natural half- back so he won’t mind following him out. Dan is one of the most underrated Limerick defenders but also one of the most effective. He’s strong in the air and will give 110 per cent. ADVANTAGE: Limerick
V WILL O’DONOGHUE BARRON is a powerhouse in the Waterford midfield and covers so much ground. What’s been letting him down this year is his finishing. He gets his one or two points but he’s spilling wides too. If he gets it right, he could easily notch up 0- 5. That is the sort of contribution that could tip the scales.
Likewise, O’donoghue’s shooting is average though he is effective and hard- working. But can he track Barron?
ADVANTAGE: Waterford
JOHN KIELY and Liam Cahill will likely stand or fall by the match- ups that they make in tomorrow’s All- Ireland final.
When choosing a
GEAROID HEGARTY ( LIM)
STEPHEN BENNETT ( WAT)
AARON GILLANE ( LIM)
DESSIE HUTCHINSON ( WAT)
CIAN LYNCH ( LIM)
AUSTIN GLEESON ( WAT)
JAMIE BARRON ( WAT)