Limerick’s tame effort does Tipp no favours

THREE months ago to the day, May 16th, their league campaign over, Munster championship opener against Waterford still several weeks away, Limerick played Cork in a senior hurling challenge match.

It was in Castletownroche, the storied north Cork club opening a new stand in time-honoured GAA fashion with what looked on paper to be an attractive pairing. On the night, however, a young and experimental Cork team gave Limerick an absolute drubbing, 1-32 to 2-15. In a manner that is absolutely atypical of the county at any stage and at any level, Limerick weren’t just without heart and passion on the night, they were without soul. At the time it was dismissed by the Limerick faithful as an aberration, one of those days – sure what was it, only a challenge match.

Well, yesterday was no challenge match – this was an All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final, the whole GAA world watching. And yet, there it was again. Yesterday in Croke Park, tens of thousands of their own supporters having travelled yet again with high hopes that even if they couldn’t overcome the odds, their team would at least put in a worthy challenge, give Tipperary a run for their money, again Limerick were a team without passion, again a team without soul – lifeless, bloodless.