Limerick under no illusions of the huge task on hand, admits O’Brien

All-Ireland SHC quarter-final

Approaching last year’s All-Ireland hurling semi-finals, one bookmaker was so torn between the remaining candidates, all breakthrough sides, the four were made joint All-Ireland favourites. It was the first occasion in modern times it had happened and was largely down to Kilkenny and Tipperary both exiting the Championship in July.

A year on, Kilkenny are already through to the semi-finals with traditional power house Cork, while perennial contenders Tipp are fancied to join them. Limerick and Paudie O’Brien are hanging in there but already some of the gloss has been taking off last year’s Munster breakthrough with their failure to successfully defend it.