LISTEN: Donal O’Grady “They (Cork) don’t have the same bench as Limerick have”

Donal O’Grady is one of the thousands of observers across the country that are hugely invested in this Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final clash between Limerick and Cork. The cork man has interests in both camps as he managed Limerick at the start of this decade and is relishing what he describes as essentially a replay from the Pairc Ui Chaoimh classic in the round robin stage of the Munster championship.

“This is a game for all intensive purpose is like a reply from the game that ended in a draw in Pairc Ui Chaoimh in June. When you look at the three semi-finalists from Munster, Clare, Cork and Limerick, you would have to say that they fully deserve to be there. I think the standard of the Munster teams this year is slightly higher on average than the Leinster teams.”

Munster Senior Hurling League Round 1, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare 3/1/2016
Clare vs Cork. Donal O’Grady. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan

While Limerick looked hot favourites to reach the Munster final after battling to secure a draw despite being reduced to 14 men in Cork, they would fall against Clare in Ennis. Cork on the other hand would go on to defeat Clare well in the final to secure a second consecutive Munster Championship. Yet O’Grady feels like Limerick will enter the game with more momentum.

While it has been a month since Cork played in that Munster final, Limerick have played two games. First, they overcame Carlow in the qualifiers before accounting for Kilkenny in a classic in Thurles a fortnight ago. O’Grady feels like that Kilkenny game will stand to Limerick on Sunday. Furthermore, the fact that all players escaped injury during that braces of games will be crucial to the Treaty side.

“I think at this stage of the championship, Limerick are in a better place than Cork in that they played their last game, which was a tough game, a fortnight before Sunday. Cork haven’t played in a month. That could dull your senses and your touch. They (Limerick) have no injuries which is a major plus having come through the back door.”

One of the most impressive aspects of this Limerick side is their refusal to deviate from the game plan while trusting in their own abilities. It is apparamt that Limerick are highly comfortable in their system, something that O’Grady has touched upon. He likens their style of play to that of the 2013 Clare team that won the All-Ireland under Davy Fitz and that od the great Brian Cody teams in Kilkenny where the hard work of the forwards as a defensive unit was clearly evident.

“Limerick have developed a system a play, reminiscent if you like of Clare when they won the All-Ireland in 2013, not so much playing with a sweeper but with players dropping back quickly, like Kilkenny in their pomp. Tom Morrissey and Gearoid Hegarty drop back deep. Of course, Kyle Hayes plays everywhere bar centre forward and he’s another cog in their machine.”

In a game where there is nothing to chose between the teams, O’Grady feels like Limerick’s superior bench could have the final say. In the quarter final against Kilkenny, Limerick introduced three All Ireland club winners in Peter Casey, Shane Dowling and William O’Donoghue.

Casey and Dowling would account for three points between them in the closing stretch as Limerick finally saw off the Cats. This is one area that Limerick are clearly stronger and could be the deciding factor come Sunday.

“That’s one area Cork are a little light on, they don’t have the same bench as Limerick have.

Clic below to listen to the interview in full.