Cats will prevail if they play to form

OF all the comments made about tomorrow’s Guinness All-Ireland hurling final, arguably the most amusing is that Limerick have nothing to lose.

While it may not be meant to be taken literally, it implies there is less at stake for Richie Bennis’ team than there is for a Kilkenny team chasing it’s 30th title.

Put another way, it would be accepted that Kilkenny do have more to lose, for the reasons that they are the champions, favourites and, perhaps most significantly, the team best equipped to succeed.

However, at a personal level it will be no less heart-breaking for the Limerick players if they fail, and certainly more disappointing for followers who have waiting for a title win since 1973. And during this time, Kilkenny were winners 11 times in 18 appearances.

Much has been made about the fact that Limerick hadn’t won a Munster championship game since 2001 (when they beat Cork and Waterford before failing narrowly to Tipperary in the final in Pairc Uí Chaoimh). But, in the same period, they won five of the six games they played in the Round Robin qualifier series last year and in 2005. And, the one they lost was that much-publicised clash with Clare in Cusack Park 12 months ago.

That led to the resignation of the Joe McKenna-led management and the installation of Richie Bennis and subsequently to big wins over Offaly and Dublin before running Cork to within a point in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Despite massive progress since then, not too many people would have fancied them at the start of the campaign to get to the All-Ireland final. My own feeling was that Waterford and Kilkenny would come through. And for all of the credit justifiably heaped on the Limerick management and players after their semi-final win, I believe the outcome would have been different if Waterford had a fortnight to prepare, instead of playing three pressure games in 14 days. Admittedly, Limerick had to endure the same thing against Tipperary in the Munster semi-final, but they had a two weeks rest before the decider.

THERE’S no doubt that Kilkenny represent the toughest challenge Limerick have had to confront this season and while the holders haven’t had a decent challenge apart from the quarter-final against Galway, it’s not as if they won’t be battle-hardened.

Cody and his backroom team have used tried and tested methods over almost a decade and there are few shrewder coaches around.

And, of course, they have had ample time to study’s Limerick method of play and, specifically, the way they set about blunting Waterford’s threat. In contrast, Limerick don’t have the benefit of a recent game against Kilkenny, apart from their League meeting in mid-March which is quite irrelevant at this stage. And apart from Mark Foley and Barry Foley, none of their players have sampled the unique experience of playing in a final.

What’s very much in Limerick’s favour is the capacity they have shown to take good scores and maximise free-taking opportunities and even more impressive is their character and resilience when their backs were to the wall.

They play with a passion which speaks volumes for the way that Bennis and his backroom team have managed to really exploit the talent of players like Damien Reale, Stephen Lucey, Brian Geary and Peter Lawlor. And, Andrew O’Shaughnessy deserves special praise for the way he has blossomed in the last year. Everything has worked out for Kilkenny, except for the possible absence through injury of PJ Ryan. On the other hand, they are extremely fortunate to have James McGarry to call on, especially when he would have been expected to come back in favour at the start of the Leinster championship.

There is the promise of a marvellous game of hurling and, for Limerick, the real prospect of victory if they can be inspired by the occasion. At the end of the day, however, Kilkenny have the better chance of winning and I believe that they make it title number 30 as long as they perform up to standard.

That will not just require a top-notch display from Henry Shefflin and the leadership expected of him as captain, but a greater spread of responsibility among the forwards. And, it will need more stability down the centre of the defence than was in evidence in periods of the quarter-final and real strength in the corner if the threat from O’Shaughnessy is to be reduced.

Overall, I have more confidence in Kilkenny delivering on their potential because this is such familiar territory for them. But, then again, Limerick, have already proved me wrong!

Verdict : Kilkenny