Ciarán Carey: “Good Start but Tipp will be Gunning for Limerick”

LIMERICK are after shedding off a few cobwebs with the Wexford game. In the first 12 or 13 minutes it had the making of a good game, but after that it appeared to be that the teams were back after a holiday camp. They were very leggy. I’d put that down to all the teams in Division 1A knowing that they are not going down.

I don’t think you are going to see the same intensity in the league this year as we did in the past. The big plus is that they came away with a win. Is there room for improvement? Without a doubt. To be fair they did battle hard.

I’m not sure about the new league setup without relegation. I do know that this time last year you had skin and hair flying because every county was mad to get off to a good start. That same pressure isn’t on this year. The shackles aren’t off. It’s kind of going out to play a match at the opening of a field. At one stage 10 minutes into the second half in the Wexford game whatever way I was looking out at it, it was the first time I had ever seen this in a game of hurling.

Aaron Gillane was inside in the full forward line with two Wexford players marking him. The nearest player to him was in the middle of the field. It was so bunched in the middle third that you would want a sat nav to get around there. It was very similar to watching football 12 or 13 years ago. It looked terrible and very naïve out of Wexford to leave all there defenders out the field.

Tipperary are the one team that will be slightly different. They have a new management and backroom team. They have trained extremely hard up until this point and will be relishing a crack off Limerick. This is a local derby and a lot of pride and take it from me that Liam Sheedy will be gunning for Limerick on Saturday. Limerick will need to be ready and prepared for that.

Tipperary have Seamus Callanan in as there captain now. In the past he used make big runs out from the 14 but I don’t think he will be doing that anymore. I have a feeling that Tipperary will go route one in around Callanan. You are not going to see Tipperary’s half back line following our half forward line back the field like Wexford did.

They are going to hold their shape but I still think that Limerick will get joy from the Tipperary defence. I think the key is running at them and utilising every blade of grass in the Gaelic Grounds if we are going to beat Tipperary.

The news broke in the last few days about my return to take over the Patrickswell senior hurling team. It’s nice when you’re involved and have a bit of a passion and love for coaching and management. As a coach/manager you get a lot off chances to coach this team and that team in different counties but it’s extra special when you are training your own club team and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m honoured, privileged and excited to get down to work.

Listen to all of Ciarán’s analysis below.