Hegarty Influence & Home Comforts: Talking Points ahead of Munster Final

The Munster Hurling Championship final makes its long awaited return to the LIT Gaelic Grounds this Sunday as Limerick face Tipperary.

After these sides met in the final game of the round robin stage, there is much interest in the rematch as Limerick look to avenge that defeat and secure a first Munster Championship win since 2013 while Tipp look to make it a perfect Munster campaign.

With so much on the line for both teams, we look at the key talking points.

Hegarty Impact

After Bonner Maher went down with injury in the last meeting between these sides, much was made of the loss of the Lorrha-Dorrha man.

His driving runs through the middle of the field will be sorely missed by Tipperary as the wing-forward recaptured some of his best form in this years Munster championship under Liam Sheedy.

However, from a Limerick point of view, one of our own juggernauts was absent for the whole clash against Tipperary.

While some have speculated the reasons for John Kiely’s decision to rest (or drop depending on who you are) captain Declan Hannon, Cian Lynch and Graeme Mulcahy there is no doubt that St Patrick’s man Gearoid Hegarty was rested for the game.

The huge half-forward has been excellent thus far for Limerick and provides an outlet that is unmatched in the squad.

His range and skill are huge assets for Limerick with teams really struggling to get to grips with Hegarty.

Not only is he a brilliant hurler, he is the leader of this Limerick forward line in terms of workrate.

Aaron Gillane is the main man when it comes to scoring but in a team that emphasises so much on hard work and turnovers, Hegarty is the standard bearer.

He leads from the front and his presence was so missed in Semple Stadium.

In Thurles, the forwards were not lacking in the workrate with Kyle Hayes especially his usual busy self.

Yet, without Hegarty, these efforts counted for little as the Tipperary half-back line of Mahers dominated.

This Sunday, assuming Hegarty is restored at wing-forward, it will be a different story.

Home comforts

Limerick’s last Munster championship triumph came back in 2013 when they bridged a gap of 17 years to secure their 19th Provincial Championship.

The following year they would relinquish their crown to Cork in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Tipperary would come up trumps in 2015 this time in Semple Stadium.

This would be the last instance that a team had home advantage in the Munster final, something which will be in Limerick’s favour on Sunday.

With such a demand for tickets in the county, there will no doubt be a white hot atmosphere on the Ennis Road with a sea of green incoming.

Limerick, after defeat in Semple Stadium, will be hoping to avail of the advantage that being at home brings with Limerick’s home form in recent years very good.

In Limerick’s seven home games since 2013, they have won five and lost two with one of those coming against Cork earlier this year which proved to be indecisive in the championship.

Certainly if Limerick perform as they did in Semple Stadium a fornight ago they will once again come unstuck against Sheedy’s side.

However, if they are up to it and it comes down to the fine margins, the Treaty county’s home comforts may just help them shade it.

Limerick’s need for goals

There is no denying Tipperary have some of the most gifted forwards in the country.

This year alone, Seamus Callanan, Jason Forde, John McGrath and Bubbles O’Dwyer have all been awarded Man of the Match awards for their performances.

Any of these men can catch fire on their day and devastate their opposition.

Against Limerick in Thurles, it was Callanan that came up trumps with the only goal of the game.

With such a threat in the Tipperary ranks, it is crucial that Limerick can get goals to counteract this.

In Semple Stadium, Limerick had only one real goal chance with Brian Hogan preventing Seamus Flanagan from getting on the scoresheet.

This Sunday, these chances have to stick.

In the wake of the Clare win, John Kiely remarked on how quick Tipperary were to get their shot away accurately, something which would come into fruition in their encounter.

To overcome this, Limerick need to emulate their scoring in Croke Park last year when they notched three goals during the two biggest games of their All-Ireland campaign.

Limerick have scored four goals in the Munster championship thus far but will need to match this or come close to this should they prevail Sunday.