O'Mahony expects 'fierce battle' with Limerick

Tipperary defender Conor O'Mahony is eagerly looking forward to tomorrow's All-Ireland semi-final tussle with Limerick, and a chance for the Premier County to reach their first All-Ireland final decider since 2001.

The 24-year-old Newport clubman made his Senior Championship debut against Limerick in the 2005 Munster SHC replay between the sides, and is also very well placed to give his opinion on tomorrow's opposition.

O'Mahony and his Tipperary colleague Shane McGrath both won Fitzgibbon Cup titles with Limerick IT in 2005 and 2007.

He says that Tipperary, who retained their Munster title last month, are fighting fit and raring to go for the Croke Park showdown with the Shannonsiders.

"We've been preparing since Limerick got over Dublin in the quarter-final, and we know that it is going to be a huge game for us," O'Mahony said.

"We can't focus too much on Limerick. You have to look after your own team and your own preparations going into this.

"We are under no illusions that Limerick aren't going to be a fierce battle for us to get over."

Tipp are odds-on favourites to progress to next month's final, where defending champions Kilkenny await.

But it is likely to be far from easy if they do make it through. Limerick have improved with each game since losing to Waterford in the Munster Championship.

And O'Mahony, a 2008 All-Star, agrees that Limerick will pose plenty of problems for his side - not just because of their overall work-rate and play but also their sheer physical presence.

"We know the physicality they bring to the game, they'll be really up for it.

"We'll just have to match that for the full 70 minutes and hopefully we'll get the right result on the day."