Lack of consistency cost us against Tipperary

Tactically, Tipperary nailed us. I also think that a four point loss was flattering to Limerick.

Within the first 10 minutes, Tipp had an opportunity of scoring 2-3 and they didn’t take it. They went fairly direct and their goalkeeper was outstanding with his puckouts.

Most of them were route one and were clearing the half forward line. The work rate was top notch and they had their work done.

There is also massive room for improvement in Tipperary. Bubbles wasn’t on fire and neither were the two McGrath’s.

Seamus Callinan was with his 1-3 from play. I have to say that their half back line stopped Limerick’s attack. Paudie Maher’s two points also knocked the stuffing out of Limerick. They had their work done.

Limerick are still in a Munster Final. It’s a must win game for Limerick. What they are lacking this year is a bit of consistency.

The defence seems to be under a bit of pressure. Last week, Diarmaid Byrnes did very well, I thought Finn did well, but the rest of the defence were under a fair amount of pressure.

They don’t seem to be hurling with the same freedom and don’t seem to have the same connection. It’s either that or the attitude is slightly off.

That back line is not the machine it was this time last year. To be fair, credit has to go to Tipperary there as well because they put them under savage pressure.

Not playing Cian Lynch, Gearoid Hegarty, Graeme Mulcahy and Declan Hannon I think was a great call. I see nothing wrong with that at all.

I thought you were showing your hand when you brought Cian and Graeme on. It was a big error and also taking William O’Donoghue off was a mistake. To me, he was in the top two or three best players that we had on the day.

A few decisions need self-diagnosis and I’m kind of wondering are these decisions made during the week and come match day, irrespective of what a player does, are they just following through on that?

There are times on any given day that you have to think on your feet. It was a strange move to bring off O’Donoghue, and certainly bringing on Cian and Mulcahy the same.

Both teams will be gunning to win the Munster Final. Limerick have already two games lost. Losing a third wouldn’t be an ideal scenario going into an All-Ireland series.

If anything, it could suit Tipperary more if they don’t win the final because of the team’s age profile. On the other hand, it could suit them if they win it, as it would give them a breather.

There is only one route to go when you are in a Munster Final and that it’s the shortest route.

Whoever comes out of Munster will be straight into an All-Ireland semi final. Another defeat would dent the confidence, but your opponents will gain confidence when they see a team losing.

I think home advantage for Limerick will be huge. They have a fair idea now about what Tipperary are about. They won’t have anything new to bring to the table from what we saw last Sunday.

Limerick have artillery, but it’s now a matter of using that full artillery and picking the best personnel.