John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer: I wouldn't have too much hope that Tipp will beat Limerick

TIPP BUBBLES BURST: John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer admits he doesn’t hold out much hope that Tipperary can defeat Limerick in their Munster SHC opener in Thurles on Sunday afternoon. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile.

John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer admits he doesn’t hold out much hope that Tipperary can defeat Limerick in their Munster SHC opener in Thurles on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking to Anthony Daly, TJ Ryan and Mark Landers at the Irish Examiner’s live show at the Clayton Cork City Hotel on Thursday night, the two-time All-Ireland winner with Tipp believes their heavy loss to Cork in the league final was a cause for concern.

“I don’t think there was any rope-a-dope, I just think Cork were much better on the day,” began Bubbles, who also won two Munster titles with the Premier county.

“Tipp set out their stall from the start that they wanted to win the league, or they wanted to have a settled team and they had it come the league final.

“They weren’t going down no trying to win it like. They were going down trying to win it and they were just blown away.

“It’s very, very similar to what happened last year in the league semi-final against Clare, Tipp, kind of half breezed through the early stages but then it came to the semi-final, and they got blown away by Clare up in Portlaoise.

“It was very similar so I would have a worry for Tipp for Sunday, for that reason.”

Asked about the impressive performances of Sam O’Farrell and Darragh McCarthy – the pair are in line to make their senior championship debuts against the Munster champions - in Tipperary’s win over Clare in the U20 Munster championship on Wednesday, Bubbles continued: “That’s their age grade, like.

“At the end of the day, if you are depending on two 18-year-olds, or 19-year-olds, come senior championship hurling, you’re not going to go too far.

“That’s nothing against the two boys; they’re absolutely brilliant players but if you’re depending on them… “The last time Tipp depended on a player like that was Noel McGrath and Eoin Kelly before him, making their debuts at 17-years of age, 18-years of age.

“If you’re depending on that… the older lads have to step up and let these young lads roll in behind them instead of depending on them.

“I would have no problem with the two lads playing. I wouldn’t see it (U20s playing Wednesday) as an issue, I would see it as maybe a confidence booster for Sunday after the hammering that they took in the league final, especially for Darragh McCarthy who had a poor game by his high standards.

“You would be holding out hope for Sunday, but I wouldn’t have too much of it now to be honest.

“From the start of the league to the league final, we’re at the same intensity level. Cork were at the same, they went up a level in the league final and now they’re going to have to go up another level.

“Aggression wise and the actual levels that you need to go up compared to the league to the championship, I don’t think Tipp have any more levels.”