Goals will be key but Limerick are going to find them hard to come by and tougher to stop
TIPPERARY versus Limerick should bring a much bigger crowd to Thurles than last weekend’s clash between Cork and Waterford. There’s a bit of revenge at stake for the home side after last year, though the reigning Munster champions will make them really sweat for it.
Some of the Limerick panel have talked about the lack of recognition received for last year’s campaign. In my eyes, they earned it the hard way and were worthy champions and the way their season has been dismissed is sure to only galvanise the players. No doubt, they travel to Thurles to prove a point.
The one thing about Limerick is they play the game the way it was played 20 or 30 years ago. Very aggressive in defence, tigerish, they go man-to-man. They like to clear their lines fast: get the ball from A to B as quickly as possible. They are so genuine. You know when they hit the dressingroom after, they’ll have given it everything.
I rate Seamus Hickey highly as a corner-back and it’s great to see him back after his injury. He was a big loss at Croke Park in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final and the management have him back where he first came to prominence. It’s seven years now since he burst on the scene and was one of the stars of the Championship as Limerick reached the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny only for Eddie Brennan to do a job on him. But then, Brennan has done that to many a corner-back over the course of his career. Shane Dowling and Kevin Downes have the perfect chance to shake off the impact-sub tag and the likes of Graeme Mulcahy and Seán Tobin need to put their hands up and lead from the front. Donal O’Grady’s departure has been overdone. He didn’t leave because of the players; he left because of the county board. I don’t think it’s going to upset things hugely.
This game has a very similar feel to Cork-Waterford. This time it’s Limerick who are total underdogs, coming in under the radar. They have a serious chance. I just think they’re going to find it hard to get goals. Full-back has been a problem position for Tipp but Pádraic Maher was brilliant there against Kilkenny. So too, Brendan Maher at centre-back.
I’m not convinced of this Tipp team yet, especially up front.
When Seamus Callanan clicks, the whole thing clicks. He has exquisite skills, but when the pressure came on in the League final he was found wanting. And if he doesn’t play well, they are looking over their shoulders for the next guy, and the next guy isn’t there. Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher (left) is a guy you’d love to go to battle with. But more a worker than a finisher.
If Limerick can limit the opposition’s goal-scoring opportunities, it should be tight but expect Tipp to scrape through.