LISTEN: Gearoid Hegarty – “the biggest test is coming up on Saturday.”

It’s been a case of so far so good for Limerick’s hurlers this year as John Kiely’s men finally negotiated their way out of a tricky 1B division and have beaten All Ireland Champions Galway and Clare en route to Saturday’s semi final.

Limerick’s Gearoid Hegarty has certainly had a busy start to the year with involvement in Limerick’s Allianz League campaign while also lifting a Fitzgibbon title with UL last month.

Speaking at the launch of the Limerick Senior Football Championship launch at the Woodlands House Hotel earlier in the week, the St Patricks man is under no illusions that Tipperary will pose the biggest test of a young Limerick side so far this year.

“Looking forward to it, there’s a nice momentum coming into our year. So far we have won every game.

“The biggest test is definitely coming up on Saturday, without a doubt, Tipp are a super hurling team, their going to be favourites and rightly so”.

Tipperary topped an extremely tight division 1A by virtue of their superior scoring difference. Indeed the premier county finished level on points with Clare, Wexford and Kilkenny on six points apiece.

The premier county have disappointed in recent seasons and failed to either reach the heights or kick on from their All Ireland win of 2016. Wins over Waterford, Wexford and Cork were enough to book passage through to a 1/4 final with Dublin which Michael Ryan’s side negotiated with ease.

The Limerick hurling public have bought into this team and the crowd that travelled to Salthill for the promotion decider was further proof that this side is gaining momentum both on and off the field.

Thurles on Saturday evening at 7pm should be no different and the dual star says that

“A league Semi-final, playing Tipp, down in Thurles Saturday night. The crowd starting to follow us again. They see that there is a young team building, they see the talent in the team, they see the potential.

“Every game we have had this year, there has been a bigger crowd. It’s increasing every game, so I’m expecting another big Limerick following on Saturday in Thurles in expectation of a win’.

The bookies have Tipperary at -3 in the betting market suggesting that Saturday’s encounter should be an enthralling affair between two very talented sides.

Listen to the thoughts of the Limerick star in full on the interview below.