Limerick boss Allen expecting a few more twists in the tale

“Tales of the Unexpected,” that’s how Limerick manager John Allen describes this year’s hurling championship, surprises being sprung in both Munster and Leinster.

“The fact that we beat Tipperary, Cork came in as underdogs and beat Clare, Dublin started poorly and are now in a Leinster final having beaten Kilkenny. Now we have Kilkenny and Tipp. It’s like the TV series Tales of the Unexpected. You’ve a new programme because it’s been a series of unexpected results.”

Kilkenny have already been installed as favourites for that knockout game against Tipp in a high-profile qualifier in Nowlan Park this Saturday — could be yet another surprise, John reckons. “I think Tipperary might win it. The rest would have done them good and the fact that we beat them will also have done them good (Limerick beat Tipp on June 9). When you lose you do much more forensic reviewing then when you win. I think they will have certainly forensically taken their team and their performance apart in that Munster semi-final and maybe now we’ll see that there’s more they can do or there is a different combination of players that they need to pick to beat Kilkenny. Kilkenny have a lot of injuries again, (are playing) three weeks in a row, not going very well. I think it might be Tipp’s turn.”