GAA
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.