Eimear Ryan: Two Spidermen meet in Croke Park, but what now for Tipperary's superheroes?

As a Tipperary fan, is it crazy to be feeling strangely positive after such a blow-hot-blow-cold year?

John O'Dwyer of Tipperary, left, with team-mate Seamus Callanan at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

The one downside of the compressed championship is the relative lack of anticipation time. We are being spoiled with meaty match-ups week in, week out. Last year’s finalists face off on Saturday, but it will hardly be a rerun of last December. In fact, when I heard that Limerick and Waterford were drawn to play in the first semi-final, I thought immediately of the internet meme where two Spider-Mans (Spider-Men?) are pointing at one another: two of a kind.

Waterford, with their youth, energy, belief and lack of baggage from yesteryear, are looking a lot like the Limerick of 2018. Limerick, of course, still have all the same attributes as their breakthrough team, only with more experience, composure, and a winning habit. With Kilkenny and Cork in Sunday’s semi, we’re guaranteed an All-Ireland pairing of one traditional county and one avant-garde.