Limerick lurking in long grass

THE first thing I want to do is to welcome the real Limerick team back to championship action.

It’s not just on behalf of Limerick hurling fans, who I know are as delighted as I am that the big boys are back, it’s on behalf of all hurling followers. You want to see the best teams competing in the championship, and we didn’t see that in Limerick last year – this year we will, and welcome that.

You have to give great credit to the way Donal O’Grady has handled it all this year – you’d nearly feel like heading for Knock to say a Novena for Limerick, such was the poor mouth coming from Donal. Fair play to him for trying but nobody is fooled, certainly no-one in Waterford.

We all know Limerick are heading for Thurles tomorrow with only one thing in mind and that’s to be in the Munster final on the second Sunday in July.

Cast your mind back to the championship two years ago – even though it was already coming apart for them, Limerick could have beaten Waterford. It was a terrible day, and one of the worst games I’ve seen in the Munster championship; Limerick weren’t nearly as organised as they are now but still they could have won. Lost the replay, which really started the rot, but Waterford should be well warned.

There is great pride in Limerick hurling, among the supporters and among the players. Any man who puts on that green jersey grows a little, and this year especially you can see it in them. Donal O’Grady always sets up his team to think and play as a team, and he has done that again, but he wouldn’t have had to work very hard to do that with this particular group.

There’s an element of toughness in Limerick hurling that everyone knows about, but there’s more in this team. There are young lads after coming through who, while they may not have won a huge amount at underage, are fantastic hurlers. I’m thinking of Paul Browne in the middle of the field, the tenacious Wayne McNamara at wing-back, Kevin Downes, Graeme Mulcahy, guys who are all well up to this level.

With Kilmallock I know first-hand how much it means to Graeme to play for Limerick, how much hurling itself means to him, how hard he works – that passion for the game is in all the Limerick players.

There is great leadership in this team as well, great experience of playing at this level, from guys like Donal ‘Dodge’ O’Grady in midfield, Seamus Hickey, Brian Geary. The latter two have played at centre-back for Limerick, but personally I’d have Gavin O’Mahony there, another guy I know well from Kilmallock.

All in all then this is a strong Limerick team, with strong men where they’re most needed, in the half-back and half-forward lines. Take it that Limerick will be contesting hard in the air, breaking ball off to the runners – you need skilful players to do that.

With all the talk about Tipperary, people tend to forget Waterford are Munster champions. Everything I’ve said about Limerick spirit you can apply to Waterford now, and for this great credit must go to Davy Fitz. And they too have that critical mix of experience and youth – look at all the kids there this Sunday, Darragh Fives, Wayne Hutchinson, Pauric Mahony, Brian O’Sullivan. Two of those lads are in crucial positions, Fives and Hutchinson in the full-back line, brave call. They have a really good and experienced line in front of them, Brick Walsh especially.

I don’t think the Waterford team will line out as selected, but then that’s nothing new these days. I’d say Shane O’Sullivan will be centre-forward, Stephen Molumphy at midfield, that will be one switch. And of course we have John Mullane, the most consistently outstanding forward in the country for several years now. What a player he’s been for Waterford – if he’s held this Sunday Waterford are in trouble, but of course that’s a lot easier said than done. Another man who can do damage for the Decies is Shane Walsh.

People are complaining Waterford aren’t playing the swashbuckling hurling of the glory years in the last decade, but they are playing winning hurling. Which would you prefer?

This difference is down to Davy, he has made them into a very difficult team to beat, tactically aware, playing with great intensity and physicality – they’re in great shape, can take and give the heavy tackles. And they are still scoring.

A winner? Waterford are the better team, they know how to grind out results, how to stick with it. They’ll be wary of Limerick but they’ll win, and I hope to see the tone of the Tipp/Cork game continued.

In Leinster Kilkenny head for Wexford Park, people giving Wexford a great chance. I have a warning for Wexford – beware, especially in the first 20 minutes. Kilkenny are in the perfect situation, people saying they’re on the wane.

We’ll know after Sunday evening, and I for one don’t believe it for a second. 25,000 people packed into the stands, baying for blood – Kilkenny will relish this. Himself is back, the one and only Henry, and we all know how important he is.

This is a powerful-looking Kilkenny team, Michael Fennelly also back. They’ll win.

Picture: Davy Fitzgerald has opted for a mix of experience and youth for tomorrow’s clash at Semple Stadium, Thurles. Picture: Sportsfile