NO Cork this time. No Tipperary either. Yet hurling fans throughout the Southern province await Sunday’s provincial hurling decider with a sense of expectation and anticipation the likes of which hasn’t been known or experienced in a generation and more.
For the first time in more than seven decades the hurling men of Suirside and Shannonside will lock horns on Munster final day, and if the 54,000 capacity of Semple Stadium is not taxed to its absolute limit then I’m misreading this one in a major way.
LIMERICK ANALYSIS
An analysis of the opposition first, and let no one be in even the slightest doubt about the credentials of this Limerick outfit. They may not be the most skilful side around, but when you talk about big hearts, brave hearts, and a never-say-die spirit then you are talking in fulsome measure about this present Limerick squad.
How many times did they come back, literally, from the dead against Tipp? Trailing the Premier county by ten points at half time in the first replay, and still those intimidating ten points adrift with little more than a quarter of an hour left on the clock, only the most super of optimists would have given them a chance of survival. But battle and bottle came to the top in a way that best summarises this Limerick outfit, and that same battle and bottle will be with them as they seek to regain top spot in the province for the first time in more than a decade.
Physically powerful in the central positions in defence where Stephen Lucey and Brian Geary are an imposing duo, they’ll also welcome the return of the skipper, Damien Reale who had to retire injured in the first half of the second replay. Throw in the tigerish and experienced Mark Foley and you will readily appreciate just how formidable a defensive phalanx they’ve got.
Midfield is problematic for them, and another minus will be their difficulty in breaching defences for goals. That said, they had the players capable of addressing these problems, and if big Brian Begley gets his game together at full forward and that flying winger Anthony O’Shaughnessy remains in his current rich vein of form our fullback line will be tested to the hilt.
Players like Mike O’Brien, Michael Fitzgerald, and Kevin Tobin may not be the most stylish you’ll see these days, but on the score of effectiveness just ask Tipp for a viewpoint!!
MORE OF THE SAME
With every player, happily, reporting fit and well Justin and his co-selectors will have a fully fit panel to select from. In truth most of the positions all but fill themselves, but after the defensive problems exposed by Cork in the semi-final its that sector that will most probably command most of selectorial attention.
The fullback line in particular creaked more than once in the semi-final, disappointing to the extent that most of us had come to believe it was a line that had finally come to terms with itself. No need to rush to panic however, and just like one swallow never made a summer neither does one sub standard display mean that a player has lost the plot.
Mr. Consistency, Shamrocks Eoin Murphy, had a troubled time against the Rebels but expect him to bounce back and perform in the super confident and reliable way we all have come to expect of him. The same expectation too of Declan Prendergast fronting the ever reliable Clinton Hennessy.
If there is to be a casualty in defence it may well be Tallow’s James Murray who struggled in the semi-final before eventually being withdrawn. There’s none more committed, none more loyal to the cause, but he has been struggling for a while now and will be under pressure to hold on.
The claims of Brian Phelan are even stronger now than before the semi-final which he illuminated with his tremendous clearances when he was introduced in place of Murray. The “Bull’’ set out his stall when given the opportunity, grasped it brilliantly with both hands, and now just might find himself recalled at wing back alongside the tried and trusted Mount Sion duo of Tony Browne and Ken McGrath.
Were that to happen then Aidan Kearney will most probably move to corner back. Nor worries about this young man however who has taken to the big stage like a veteran. The find of the year, a revelation in the truest sense, he won’t be found wanting in whatever position he is chosen.
MIDFIELD
All one can say with certainty about midfield is that the skipper, Michael “Brick’’ Walsh, will be one half of the pairing. Who will partner him however is one the selectors are likely to dwell long and hard on.
Stephen Molumphy, Jack Kennedy, even Eoin Kelly all come into the equation although I suspect the latter will be preferred for an attacking role. And what of a fit again Dave Bennett, or has the Lismore clubman been discarded to the scrap heap? I certainly hope not.
Limerick are not nearly as good as Cork’s Jerry O’Connor and Tom Kenny, but they will have real grafters in the sector and we will need a duo capable of matching their work ethic, not to mention the physicality they are certain to bring with them into the game.
Having started Paul Flynn against Cork I fully expect the Gunners man to again be included in the starting fifteen. And with Dan The Man, Seamus Prendergast, the aforementioned Eoin Kelly, and the flying John Mullane playing at the very top of their game we can reasonably expect a decent scoring return.
WIDE OPEN
A fast, fluent, open game is what we will be hoping for, a semi-final replica will do very nicely thank you. However I suspect Limerick will be hoping to keep things tight, hoping for the type of battle in which they eventually wore down the Tippmen. If they are within sight of us going into the closing quarter then it surely will be nail biting time.
With the coveted title already won twice in the present decade (we only achieved that once before in the 1950s,’57 and ‘59), Sunday could be a day of history if we can pull it off. Our form this year suggests we are the team all of the other contenders will have to beat, but as the world and his wife knows there are no guarantees of any kind in this competitive sporting world.
Limerick’s determination will be near enough to fanatical on Sunday, the important thing is that we can match them on that one and then let our silken skills do the rest. It will be tough - - Munster finals usually are - -but we undoubtedly have what it takes to carry the day. Expect another titanic battle to round off what has been a memorable championship campaign. The honour of the little parish is at stake - -big time - -and the exchanges will be frenetic in pursuit of the coveted pot. It could go either way, but we have what it takes to garner the glory. Good luck to the lads.
