KEY CLASHES
SEAMUS FLANAGAN v DAITHÍ BURKE
Burke copperfastened his reputation in the semi-final replay against Clare, moving his game up another level to blot out John Conlon, surely the All-Star full-forward. Flanagan (right) can shift and shoot off left and right, which Burke can handle. Both are strong in the air which gives this battle another dimension. If Flanagan could somehow get the better of Burke it would be like shooting the bull elephant.
JOHNNY COEN V CIAN LYNCH
From a Galway point of view, Coen looks the perfect shadow for Lynch. In last year’s final, the Loughrea man was handpicked for Jamie Barron, a Hurler of the Year candidate, even though Waterford tried to get him to match up with Kevin Moran. Coen allowed David Burke to finish with four points from play. Like Barron, Lynch showed in the semi-final against Cork an ability to drift in behind for a goal, and he is such a confident player. His hands are so quick, he can get out of trouble in an instant. If Lynch is allowed dictate, then it could be the winning of the game for Limerick.
PÁDRAIG MANNION
In the All-Ireland semi-final replay against Clare, the number of points that originated from him hit double figures.
A warrior-type figure, Mannion is rangy, tough, strong and savagely determined, with buckets of hurling ability. He has that drop of the shoulder to beat his man, looking up all the time to play the right pass. He can stick a 70-yard pass just as easily as a 10-yarder. Do Limerick put Kyle Hayes on him? Because they have to neutralise his threat. Nailed on for an All-Star, another high-level performance and he’s likely to be named Hurler of the Year.
AARON GILLANE
Liable to do anything, it’s that unpredictability that gives him an X-factor.
He has that knack of being able to catch that ball from behind the defender, to get the hand in over his marker’s shoulder and pluck it. He knows at this stage just not to drop his hurl or let it be pulled out of his hand. A final is not like any other game, not like any other pressure. He is going to have to slot the frees and, arguably, find the net for Limerick to win.
The way he is playing, with confidence rather than arrogance, he is going to get a goal chance.