3 Key Battles as Limerick and Tipperary seek Munster final berth

Limerick or Tipperary will contest this year’s Munster Football final as the pair do battle in the semi-final in the LIT Gaelic Grounds this Saturday.

Limerick won the reverse fixture in 2019, their first Munster win in seven years but haven’t reached the decider since 2010.

Tipp reached the final in 2016, en route to advancing to the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Below we look at three of the key-matchups that could decide the contest.

Who picks up Iain Corbett if he moves into the forward line?

Iain Corbett is one of the finest attacking defenders in the game and that is saying something with the likes of James McCarthy, Ryan McHugh and Paul Murphy revolutionising the position.

In last year’s game, the Newcastle West man grabbed 1-2 from centre-back including the crucial first goal. He has been right at it since the return but has notably played higher up the field with Killian Ryan’s inclusion in the half-back line freeing up Corbett.

He is likely to drift between both wing forward and centre-back, depending on how the game is going. When Limerick dominated Waterford in the first-half last week, Corbett remained in the forwards before moving back as the Deise applied pressure in the second half.

If he does something similar this Saturday, Tipperary will need a plan for him. Bill Maher’s energy is probably best suited for the role but his ability to get up the field could be negated if he is assigned to Corbett, On the other wing, Robbie Kiely is very similar.

It’s probable one’s attacking game will be sacrificed early on to try and curb the rampaging Corbett.

Who can get on top in midfield?

Although both sides will be operating in Division 3 for 2020, the class on show in the middle third on Saturday is of the highest level. Limerick will more than likely opt for the duo of Darragh Treacey and Tommie Childs, with Tommy Griffin floating around the forward line and offering his presence deeper when required.

Tipperary have the pairing of Liam Casey and Steven O’Brien, two dominant midfielders. O’Brien was an All-Ireland minor winner in 2011 and was part of the U21 team that reached the All-Ireland final in 2015. Casey was also a part of that side and starred for UCD in their Sigerson cup win in 2018. Each man grabbed a point in the reverse fixture in 2019.

Incidentally, both Treacey and Casey were due to be travelling this year.

Treacey’s return has really bolstered the midfield line with Childs combining huge size and skill in the middle of the park.

While the era of dominating big men is behind us, whoever gets the upper hand here on Saturday will play a huge part in deciding the fortune of the game.

Who is tasked with marking Sweeney and Quinilvan?

Conor Sweeney is one of the most underrated forwards in the country as he puts in top class displays for the Premier almost every time he takes the field in the blue and yellow.

Michael Quinlivan, another who was supposed to be away travelling, is a former All Star and Limerick know all too well about his quality as seen in the meeting last year.

This year Quinlivan has picked up a deeper lying position at centre-forward. If Corbett is deloyed in the forwards, then it appears one of Killian Ryan, Tony McCarthy or Gordon Browne will pick the Clonmel man. Ryan appears the best suited and could try to put Quinlivan on the back foot should he opt to attack as so often does.

Sweeney has hit the ground running in the championship and bagged 1-4 against Clare with just two of those points coming from frees. He is a tall inside forward with a cultured left foot his primary weapon. Any of the Limerick full back line will be keen to tackle Sweeney but size wise, Brian Fanning matches up best although Sean O’Dea would be deemed the best defender in the side.

Whichever duo are chosen, if they can prevent the Tipp pair from firing, they will go a long way in securing that Munster final berth.