Treaty men have learnt value of the bench press
This game yesterday brought back memories of 1996 for me, another scorcher, another epic display but on that occasion it was against Clare, the then reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions.
Remember that Ciarán Carey point? Was there ever a better winning score? I said on Saturday that if the attitude of the three guys I meet so regularly as manager of Kilmallock — Paudie O’Brien, Gavin O’Mahony and Graeme Mulcahy — was typical of everyone else on the Limerick panel, then Limerick had a real chance yesterday. Now we know the answer.
Think of the full-back line especially for Limerick yesterday. Stephen Walsh, Richie McCarthy and Tom Condon were absolutely outstanding (Walsh my man of the match).
This trio typified what Limerick are made of, the Limerick of old. Limerick played the Limerick way yesterday. In your face — the Patrick Sarsfield attitude if you like. That is Limerick club hurling and it should be Limerick county hurling also.
Look then at the leaders. When Limerick started to leak scores at the start of the second half, who stepped forward? Midfielder and captain Donal O’Grady. That’s what you want from your captain, that’s what you want from your experienced players. The same could be said of the entire Limerick half-back line. A battle-hardened trio Paudie O’Brien, Wayne McNamara and Gavin O’Mahony took a step forward just as the game seemed to be slipping from Limerick.
And what about the goalkeeper? Nicky Quaid made two absolutely brilliant saves. It was reminiscent of his late father Tommy at his best. What the dog will do, the pup will follow.
The greatest praise of all has to go to the management team of John Allen, Eamon Meskell and an ex-soldier of mine, Garyspillane’s John Kiely. They got a bit of stick in Limerick during the week for the team they picked but they had learned from last year. They didn’t start with their strongest 15, they held a few in reserve and when the game was in the balance, in came Shane Dowling, Conor Allis, Niall Moran, Cathal King and Kevin Downes, all top players and all with something to offer.
The management had learned from last year you see when Tipperary were the ones with the big guns coming off the bench. That’s what you want to see from the men on the sideline, intelligence.
This is a massive boost for Limerick. People talk about rugby in Limerick but they also love their hurling and they’ve been crying out for something like this. The Féile is in Limerick this year, this is perfect for them, a great promotion opportunity for hurling in the county.
Of course they’re only in a Munster final and regardless of who they’re going to meet, Cork or Clare, that’s going to be a huge ask. There was a great carnival atmosphere afterwards but the players wouldn’t want to get too involved emotionally in all that. There’s a Munster title to be won. Focus on that.
What of Tipperary? Apart from Michael Cahill, Paddy Stapleton, Padraic Maher and John O’Brien all through, and John O’Dwyer when he came on as a sub, they were a disappointment. I’ve said this before, I think there’s a soft underbelly in this side and it’s mostly up front. I’d say a good few of their hardcore supporters are almost on painkillers at this stage to dull the senses. They won’t have liked what they saw yesterday, in the final quarter especially. Bringing on a man who was supposedly still not fully recovered from his injured ribs, Lar Corbett, made me think — maybe it’s time for Tipperary to move on from Lar’s generation and look to the younger guys.
Maybe it’s time also people started to question Eamon O’Shea’s management. Shane McGrath, for example, a good choice as captain? I believe it’s affecting Shane’s game and he’s definitely not anywhere near the player he was. Time for Tipperary to ring a few changes. Declan Ryan and Tommy Dunne shipped a lot of criticism last year but they won the last two Munster titles, remember. Did anyone see an improvement in Tipperary yesterday? I didn’t.
To Leinster. Offaly were beaten by only five points but it was 26 scores to 13, 0-26 to 4-9. Kilkenny didn’t send their intermediate team but I wonder, were they in top gear?
In Wexford Park, the only thing I can say is that the hurling was actually worse than the opening Munster championship game last week between Clare and Waterford. I wouldn’t have thought that possible. So bad was it that I think both teams should be brought up before the CCCC and charged with bringing the game into disrepute.
Who’ll win the replay? Does it matter? You’d fancy Dublin in Parnell Park but boy, do they have room for improvement.
