Limerick v Tipperary: Comparing the teams, position by position

Limerick’s Munster semi-final clash with Tipperary is the standout tie of this weekend’s GAA action.

The sides hold the past two All-Ireland titles with Tipp the current champions.

When these sides last met, Limerick had 12-points to spare in a Munster final masterclass.

Two weeks previous to that game, Tipp were winners in the final round of the Munster championship.

This weekend’s game promises to be another brilliant encounter with so little to choose between the teams.

Below we look though the sides to see where the advantages may be.

I will base this on the team’s last Championship starting XV, Limerick’s v Clare last Sunday and Tipperary’s from the 2019 All-Ireland final although both are subject to change.


Goalkeeper

Nickie Quaid (Limerick) v Brian Hogan (Tipperary)

Hogan really announced himself onto the national scene as he finished the All-Ireand winning year with an All Star which was deserved after a string of brilliant performances for the Premier County. On the other hand Nickie Quaid can count himself extremely unlucky to have never won an All Star in his decade long run as Limerick’s no.1.

Both are brilliant shotstoppers but Quaid’s consistency and puckout excellence sees him edge his young counterpart.

Munster GAA Senior Hurling Championship Final, LIT Gaelic Grounds, Limerick 30/6/2019 Tipperary vs Limerick Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid celebrates his side’s second goal Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Full Back Line

Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash (Limerick) v

Cathal Barrett, Ronan Maher, Barry Heffernan (Tipperary)

Surprisingly the full back line on both sides is probably the most unpredictable. For Limerick, stalwarts Mike Casey and Richie English are sidelined with injury while Tipp moved wing backs Ronan Maher and Barry Heffernan into the full back line after last year’s hammering in the Munster final. Limerick will likely to go with Morrissey and Nash again after the bedding in against Clare while Tipp will be favoured to go back to the All-Ireland winning trio.

GAA All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final, Croke Park, Dublin 19/8/2018 Galway vs Limerick Limerick’s Sean Finn celebrates after the game Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

For Limerick, Sean Finn has been the best corner back in the country for the best part of two years and is a nightmare for forwards to deal with. Dan Morrissey has proved himself superbly in the half back line and settled well at full back against Clare. He did have issues there against Callanan in 2016 however. Barry Nash didn’t look as comfortable in the number 4 jersey but will have learned from the Banner experience.

In Tipp, Cathal Barrett is Finn’s main challenger as the best in the business in the corner with both holding a pair of All Stars. Ronan Maher slotted in at full back seamlessly but could be pushed out the field if Brendan Maher is once again assigned to Aaron Gillane. Barry Heffernan like his namesake in the Limerick rearguard is not a conventional corner back but plugged that gap expertly for Tipp in the knockout rounds last summer.

Munster GAA Senior Hurling Championship Round 5, Semple Stadium, Co. Tipperary 16/6/2019 Tipperary vs Limerick Limerick’s Kyle Hayes with Tipperary’s Ronan Maher Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ken Sutton

Limerick’s injury worries turn this battle in Tipp’s favour.


Half Back Line

Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Paddy O’Loughlin (Limerick) v

Brendan Maher, Padraic Maher, Seamus Kennedy (Tipperary)

The teams boast a who’s who of All Star calibre wing-backs with the Maher’s holding nine between them. As mentioned, Brendan could easily revert to full to mark Gillane with Ronan moving out to the wing but that remains to be seen.

Limerick’s trio was interrupted with O’Loughlin moving into Morrissey’s place but the Kilmallock man is no downgrade as he has shown in each of his championship appearances whenever called upon over the past two years. Diarmaid Byrnes seems to be on form as he banged three points from play against Clare. Declan Hannon was imperious in his quarterback role and is unmatched in that regard from centre back.

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 4, LIT Gaelic Grounds, Co. Limerick 9/6/2019 Limerick vs Clare Limerick’s Declan Hannon celebrates scoring a first half point Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

His opposition number 6, Paudi Maher will go down as one of the great half backs to have played the game as will his teammate Brendan who has been arguably the form hurler in the country since coming back from an ACL tear in 2018. Seamus Kennedy’s decision to switch codes has resulted in two All-Irelands.

On paper there is little to separate the teams with Tipperary just shading it, although they did struggle in this line in last years Munster final.


Midfield

Cian Lynch, William O’Donoghue (Limerick) v

Noel McGrath, Michael Breen (Tipperary)

The quality in the middle of the park on Sunday is absurd. Cian Lynch is a former hurler of the year, Noel McGrath has three All Stars and as many All-Irelands. O’Donoghue has taken his game to new levels over the past 12-months and is one of the first names on the teamsheet. When Michael Breen hits top form, there are few that can live with him.

Munster GAA Senior Hurling Championship Final, LIT Gaelic Grounds, Limerick 30/6/2019 Tipperary vs Limerick Limerick’s Cian Lynch celebrates at the final whistle Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

Lynch and McGrath are impossible to separate as both are the key fulcrum in how their side operates. O’Donoghue’s consistency is unerring while Breen’s performances can be erratic.

As such, Limerick hold an advantage in the middle.


Half Forward Line

Gearoid Hegarty, Kyle Hayes, Tom Morrissey (Limerick) v

Dan McCormack, Niall O’Meara, John McGrath (Tipperary)

Placing six Tipperary forwards in specific positions is relatively pointless with their constant movement a huge feature of their play. Bonnar Maher’s injury last year should not be overlooked as he looks certain to come into the team in the place of one of the above, probably McCormack or O’Meara. Probably Tipp’s most unselfish line with two of the three primarily workhorses. However, each has an eye for goal, especially McGrath who will switch in and out.

Nonetheless, the abundance of talent at John Kiely’s disposal in the half-forward line makes it one that no other county can compare to. The aforementioned trio aside, Limerick can call upon Conor Boylan, David Dempsey, Darragh O’Donovan, David Reidy and more to fill in if needed.

However, the first choice unit of Hegarty, Hayes and Morrissey is instrumental to everything good that Limerick do. Their workrate is immense but they back this up on the scoreboard as they accounted for 0-12 against Clare, all coming from play. Each is a match winner in their own right and all step up when needed most, see Morrissey against Kilkenny in 2018, Hayes in the All-Ireland final and Hegarty last weekend.

Munster GAA Senior Hurling Championship Round 5, Semple Stadium, Co. Tipperary 16/6/2019 Tipperary vs Limerick Limerick’s Tom Morrissey scores a point ahead of Tipperary’s Jason Forde Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ken Sutton

The biggest gulf between the sides comes in this area of the pitch.


Full Forward Line

Graeme Mulcahy, Aaron Gillane, Peter Casey (Limerick) v

John O’Dwyer, Seamus Callanan, Jason Forde (Tipperary)

The firepower both sides possess is incredible when you list out those six names.

While Limerick’s front three is set in stone, Tipp again are more flexible and John O’Dwyer is likely to shift out the field, as will Jason Forde. One man guaranteed to stay inside is Seamus Callanan, the current Hurler of the Year and supreme goal getter. The Drom & Inch man scored a goal in each of last year’s championship games including back-to-back efforts against Limerick.

Munster GAA Senior Hurling Championship Round 5, Semple Stadium, Co. Tipperary 16/6/2019 Tipperary vs Limerick Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan shoots on goal Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ken Sutton

Without Richie English and Mike Casey, it is likely that Tipp will look to isolate Callanan inside and it will be interesting to see how Dan Morrissey fares after Callanan took him for a brace of goals four years ago. Beside him Jason Forde has hit new highs since taking over placed ball duties while ‘Bubbles’ has the ability to light up any game.

For John Kiely, his options are equally impressive. Aaron Gillane won his first All Star in 2019 and is Limerick’s marquee forward. While he was quiet against Tipp in the first game last year, he was almost unmarkable in every other game and will look to continue in that vein. Peter Casey beside him is an elite scorer while Graeme Mulcahy provides the perfect blend of skill and workrate and probably should have a Hurler of the Year award in his repertoire.

25 January 2020; Aaron Gillane of Limerick celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A Round 1 match between Tipperary and Limerick at Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

It is extremely hard to separate either unit with the winners on Sunday to claim bragging rights.


Replacements

Again both sides are blessed with options off the bench that have been mentioned previously.

Notable names for Limerick include David Dempsey, Darragh O’Donovan, Seamus Flanagan, Conor Boylan, Pat Ryan, David Reidy and Jerome Boylan.

In the opposition dugout (stand), Sheedy can call upon Bonnar Maher, Jake Morris, Cian Darcy, Willie Connors, Alan Flynn, Mark Kehoe and Ger Browne to name a few.

They are the strongest benches in the country and no surprise when you consider the past two winners of the championship.

Overall

Both sides are laden with weapons throghout the field and it would not be all too surprising to see both meet again a fortnight before Christmas in Croke Park.

But for now I edge towards my heart and give Limerick a slight advantage.

Limerick play Tipperary in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final this Sunday in Pairc Ui Chaoimh at 4pm.

Social Sharing

Posted in

Limerick name camogie team to face Wexford | TEAM NEWS

Quaid's side picked up important wins over Kerry and Down in heir opening two league fixture, before suffering ...
Read More

ODDS | Kerry favourites for Munster Football title

Limerick lost back to finals in 2009 and 2010, as well as in 2003 and 2004. They have ...
Read More

Lacklustre Limerick lose League title on Leeside

Limerick 1-15Kilkenny 3-17Limerick relinquished their Allianz League title, with a very uncharacteristic loss at the hands to Kilkenny, ...
Read More

Sean Finn named in starting XV for Kilkenny clash | TEAM NEWS

Sharpshooter Aaron Gillane continues in the corner, the Limerick talisman joined by Donnacha Ó Dálaigh and Peter Casey ...
Read More

“Looking for a better performance the next day” | John Kiely speaks after 14 man Limerick earn Galway draw

The Shannonsiders had to adapt having gone down to 14 men, and opted to move Adam English to ...
Read More

Fourteen man Limerick dig deep to progress to NHL semi-finals

Galway 0-17Limerick 0-17Limerick qualified for the NHL Division 1 semi-finals, after a draw away to Galway, despite playing ...
Read More

Limerick name team for Wicklow football league crunch fixture | TEAM NEWS

Lee’s men have fallen to defeats to Antrim, Sligo, Down, Westmeath and Clare so far, and need to ...
Read More

Captain Hannon returns as Kiely names side for Galway tie | TEAM NEWS

Aside from Hannon; Barry Nash, David Reidy, Shane O'Brien, Tom Morrissey, Seamus Flanagan and Adam English all come ...
Read More