National League final spot on offer as Limerick welcome Tipp in titanic encounter

Limerick have dominated the recent meetings, winning twice in the league and on three occasions in the championship since 2019.

Two of the form teams in the country take to the TUS Gaelic Grounds field this Saturday evening with a place in the 2023 Nationa Hurling League final on offer. For Tipperary, it is a first chance to test themselves against the all-conquering Limerick team with under the tutelage of Liam Cahill.

So far the signs have been good for the Premier county under the Ballingarry man but they will face their most difficult assignment against the three-in-a-row All-Ireland champions who have hit their groove early this year after successive below par league campaigns.

But while Limerick have won four on the bounce, Tipperary have been perfect in the Spring thus far, defeating Laois, Kilkenny, Waterford, Antrim and Dublin to top group two of Division 1 ahead of the Cats.

After winning back-to-back U21/20 titles with the Premier County, Cahill cut his teeth with the Waterford senior hurlers, leading them to the All-Ireland final in his first year in charge. They again fell short against Limerick twelve months later in the semi-finals before petering out after winning the league last term.

Back with his native Tipp, there has been a clear buy-in, with the Munster side turning around their fortunes after sliding following their All-Ireland win in 2019. They failed to make it out of the province last year but will see Saturday’s clash as a first chance to lay down a marker against the standard bearers.

Incidentally, their last meaningful win against Limerick came at the same stage in 2018 when they recorded a 2-31 to 1-31 win after extra-time in Semple Stadium, going on to lose the final against Kilkenny. But the Shannonsiders got their revenge later that year in the provincial championship, their first win over Tipp in Munster in four years.

Since then, Limerick have dominated the meetings between the sides, winning in the league in 2019 and 2020 as well as in the championship in 2019, 2020 and 2022. Tipp’s sole victory in that time was in the Munster Championship round robin four years ago but it proved in vain with Limerick winning the provincial final against the same opposition a fortnight later.

Both sides have named their panels for the game with each seemingly keen on reaching the league decider which will be played just a fortnight prior to their respective first-round clashes in Munster.

John Kiely has made eight changes to his side that defeated Wexford to secure a last eight berth. Into the starting line up come Sean Finn, Colin Coughlan, William O’Donovan, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Peter Casey and Donnacha O’Dalaigh. All-Stars Kyle Hayes, Gearoid Hegarty, Richie English, Dan Morrissey and Seamus Flanagan are kept in reserve.

Such is Limerick’s squad depth, John Kiely has been able to rotate his squad frequently whilst maintaining a high standard. However, there has been a trend of dropping off in the second half as seen in the first three rounds. They held healthy leads against Cork, Clare and Galway but despite holding off the late challenge of the latter pair, Cork turned around their opening contest.

Tipperary will hope to do the same with Limerick’s last pair of challenges against Wexford and Westmeath failing to ignite. But the Premier themselves come into the game off the back of a facile win over Antrim where they were 12-point winners in Corrigan Park.

Saturday’s contest should have no issues in igniting with a hefty crowd expected at the Gaelic Grounds for a game that certainly has a championship feel to it. And judging by John Kiely’s comments post-Wexford, there is a desire in Limerick to reach the final where they will be guaranteed another tough contest against either Cork or Kilkenny on April 9.

“If we weren’t in the competition we’d be gonna have looking for challenge matches so you know you need games you’re not going to be ready for Championship without games so this is absolutely the best possible preparation.”

Whoever comes out on top this Saturday, it will be first blood for the year and the perfect launchpad as the Munster Championship draws ever closer.

Limerick play Tipperary in the National Hurling League semi-final on Saturday, March 25 at the TUS Gaelic Grounds at 7.30pm

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