Michael Duignan
Treaty powered by their shot at hurling history
Limerick focus on creating a legacy
THE romance and history of the Munster SHC has been on my mind all week. Especially with a lot of talk about the inter-county provincial football Championships no longer being fit for purpose. On that, I’m very much in agreement that we have to do something. Being involved in the GAA, you see the issues first hand. Provincial councils are independent of GAA centrally and fund a lot of projects. The provincial Championships are their main source of income. We’re trying to grow our coaching base here in Offaly at the moment and we’re dependent on the Leinster Council for help. The same for other club and county developments. And that goes for counties all over Ireland.
If that was looked at, if guarantees were given to make sure they were funded properly, that alleviates the fear that is out there amongst provincial councils and the traditional resistance to change. Because it is a real fear. Leinster Council have been hugely supportive of Offaly down the years, people like Michael Delaney and Michael Reynolds.
It’s harder in hurling if they try to do something about the provincial system because of that mystique around Munster. Even though Cork and Tipperary have dominated the roll of honour, it always comes back to Christy Ring and Mick Mackey and the folklore attached down all the years. It’s amazing how it feeds into the psyche.
Look at Limerick who face Tipperary this afternoon. Limerick secured two titles in a row in 1980 and 1981 and a historic fourin-a-row between 1933 and ’36. They have never won three in a row since then. So, for a county like Limerick, and for these current players, the opportunity to do that today has to be a hugely motivating factor.
Some of these Tipp lads have five Munster titles since
2009. But no three-in-arow either, which shows just how hard it is.
The game comes with an interesting backdrop. Limerick are going through a phase that a lot of successful teams do, just finding it hard to stay going at the same level in terms of performance, quality, discipline.
Walking out of Croke Park last December after the All-Ireland final against Waterford, I thought they looked unbeatable. But they lost a few in the National League and it looked like maybe a few cracks were appearing.
We saw with Galway, Tipp and Clare, after All-Ireland success, how it is very hard to come back again and again.
A couple of things about Limerick. The half-forward line hasn’t been firing the same.
Tom Morrissey was taken off the last day and while Cian Lynch was exceptional, we’ve just seen glimpses of the best form of Gearóid Hegarty.
Tipperary have the likes of Séamus Kennedy, Brendan and Ronan Maher or Pádraic Maher to slot in either to that half-back line. They are all excellent hurlers but not as mobile.
Do they change things up? Barry Heffernan has pace and hurling ability. To me, he certainly is another option. Will Cathal Barrett pick up Aaron Gillane which would leave Séamus Flanagan on Pádraic Maher which brings up the issue of pace again? That’s dependent on the Limerick forward line hitting top gear which they haven’t, yet. The substitutes haven’t made as much impact as other years when you had Peter Casey or Flanagan coming on, or Pat Ryan and Shane Dowling. So there are a few question marks about the champions. There isn’t this air of invincibility any more.
One doubt about Tipperary concerns all that young potential failing to break through. Offaly played Tipp recently in a challenge match that featured much of the second team.
They have so much talent in terms of Under 20 and 21 medal winners who haven’t fully broken through into the team.
The passion of manager Liam Sheedy was noticeabe before the Munster semi-final against Clare, even in the warm-up. He was in amongst the players, driving it on. Nearly having a word, player by player. We saw him at the water break when he chatted with his captain Séamus Callanan, again looking to lift the team.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Tipperary won. I think Sheedy realises he needs to stay winning, to go through the front door, given the age profile of some of his key men. Two years on from that 2019 success and it’s very hard to replicate that summer. John McGrath is a shadow of himself. He never had lightning pace but great instinct and finishing ability. Tipp need him back firing.
MICHAEL BREEN moving to wing-forward worked well against Clare while Dan McCormack showed with Bor-ris-Ileigh that he is well suited to midfield. Bubbles O’Dwyer and Callanan remain such a threat. Tipperary’s plan will be to contain things, try and figure out this Limerick team and disrupt their set-up and natural rhythm.
Breen versus Kyle Hayes will be some match-up given their sheer pace and power.
The tactical battle will be interesting, too. I wouldn’t concede the puck-out to Limerick under any circumstances. I certainly wouldn’t let Barry Nash have it. Between Nash in the corner and Hayes in front of him, it often goes through that line – the latter breaks the tackle and they’re away.
Tipperary are better equipped than most to force Limerick and Nickie Quaid long and deal with aerial threat. All three lads are very strong in the air – it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to let Limerick play out.
Thinking about it then all week, the obvious thing is to favour a Limerick win.
But Tipp too have the experience of champions. They are so experienced and I’m thinking, the Tipp bench is stronger.
So why is it still Limerick for me? It comes back to that sense of history and tradition and the motivation of trying to become the first Limerick team since the 1930s to win three Munster hurling titles in a row.
Which shows that amidst all the sports science of the modern game, a bit of romanticism still has a part to play.