Talking Points ahead of Limerick’s Munster Championship battle with Waterford

Limerick entertain Waterford this Sunday in their third game of the 2018 Munster Hurling Championship.  A win for Limerick would guarantee progression out of Munster and closer to a Munster final berth while a loss for Waterford would knock the Déise out of the championship. With so much on the line, we look at some of the talking points ahead of the game.

Nothing to lose for Waterford

It’s easy to forget that this game is classed as a home game for both, with Waterford playing their ‘home’ fixtures in the Gaelic Grounds as Walsh Park was not deemed up to standard to host Munster Championship games prior to renovations. With only a point on the board thus far, The Déise will be looking at this game as a must win. They face Cork in their final game and with the neither Limerick or the Rebels guaranteed of a spot in the final yet, Waterford know they will be up against it in their final two games. But this Waterford team is no stranger to adversity and will be keen to prove the doubters wrong once more.

After a barrage of injuries suffered in the demoralising loss to Clare in their opening game, Derek McGrath’s troops were written off for the year. Yet, had it not been for an awful decision to award Tipp a goal, even though the ball had clearly not crossed the line, Waterford would be returning to the Gaelic Grounds in high spirits. Waterford, who reached the All-Ireland final last September, are loaded with quality across the pitch and have two of the country’s outstanding players in Austin Gleeson and Jamie Barron who can win games on their own.

Waterford will also prosper with the tag of underdogs, something they’ve shown over the years as evident in their Semi-final ambush of Cork last summer. Derek McGrath will have his side well prepared for Limerick Sunday in what promises to be another thrilling Munster Hurling clash. Two wins from their remaining game will see them through and the Déise will be gunning for Limerick to keep their hopes alive heading into the final round of games. As for Limerick they can guarantee passage to the All-Ireland quarter finals with a win on Sunday. Two points would also go a long way in securing a first Munster final berth since 2014.

Acid test for Limerick’s young stars

As is already well established, this Limerick side is incredibly young. Of last week’s starting XV, outside of Nicky Quaid, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey and Graeme Mulcahy, every other player has won an All-Ireland U21 title in the previous three years. However, these players have defied their age putting in a string of mature displays thus far in the League and Championship in 2018. Despite losing their captain and a man to a red card within the opening half hour last week against Cork, Limerick deserved to win with several young players such as Tom Morrissey, Cian Lynch, Sean Finn and Seamus Flanagan all standing out.

Yet, Sundays game will tell a lot about these men as some will be coming up against seasoned All-Stars. Cian Lynch, who has been a revelation since his move to midfield in the League will line up directly against arguably the best midfielder in the country in the aforementioned Jamie Barron. Had Waterford beaten Galway in Croke Park last September, the Fourmilewater man was a shoo-in for Hurler of the Year. Not only will this dual tell a lot about Lynch’s future in midfield, it will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the game. However, based on Lynch’s current streak you wouldn’t bet against the Patrickswell man producing another barnstormer.

As for the likes of Seamus Flanagan and Mike Casey it is much of the same with brutish men like Noel Connors and Tom Devine to contend with respectively. This youthful Limerick side have started the campaign brilliantly thus far, but Waterford will pose a completely different challenge to that of Tipp and Cork.

Who replaces Gillane?

Aaron Gillane was the talk of the Limerick team heading into the 2018 Championship and rightly so after his incredible form in the U21 Championship last summer. After a positive performance against Tipp in the opening round of the championship, a moment of madness against Cork may have ended Gillane’s championship hopes. He will definitely miss the Waterford game through suspension and such is the quality in the Limerick side, Gillane will find it difficult to retain his place in John Kiely’s side once he returns from suspension.

With Gillane out of contention, attention will focus on who will replace the Patrickswell man. In each of Limerick’s championship games this year, David Dempsey, Barry Murphy and Pat Ryan have been introduced in the second half to great effect. With the half-forward line of Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes and Tom Morrissey all but guaranteed to start, it would look most likely that corner forwards Ryan and Murphy will be fighting out for Gillane’s place. However, Peter Casey returned from injury in the build up to the Cork game and is another option. The Waterford game looks like it will come a week too early for Casey, but if the Na Piarsaigh man is fully fit, expect him to slot straight back into the starting fifteen.

The Minors

The 2018 Munster Senior Hurling championship has garnered the praise it deserves with each exceptional game followed by another. The hype surrounding John Kiely and the senior side at the moment is infectious and the county is united behind these men who have performed so well this year. However, the exploits of the minor team under Antoin Power has gone largely unnoticed. After a classy victory over Tipperary in the opening round, they became the first side to win away from home in this year’s Munster championship with an excellent display in Pairc Ui Chaoimh last Saturday. Indeed, they are the only team to win away in either the minor or senior Munster championships in 2018.

They are blessed with a few superb young hurlers in Eoin O’Mahony, Patrick Kirby, Diarmuid Hegarty, Emmet McEvoy among many others. Crecora’s Cathal O’Neill deserves a special mention with two blistering displays in the championship so far. Operating at wing-forward, he has been unplayable, tallying 0-22 in the opening brace of games, with 0-9 coming from play. Anyone heading to the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday should make it their business to be there at 12pm to support the minors in the curtain raiser, they will not be disappointed.