When the sideline cut was made by Tony Kelly in the match against Limerick two years prior, I was rooting for it – not due to being a Clare supporter, but in the hope of the Munster final being extended into overtime. These sides have offered sensational matches in previous years and I would encourage anyone in proximity to a television at 4pm this coming Sunday to watch.
Recent form isn’t always determinant, which could be a major factor this time as Clare has not quite matched their level of performance from the last two years. They have had their moments of brilliance, especially when playing against Cork and during three quarters of the match with Limerick before they succumbed to a barrage of soft goals. However, their struggle to seal the deal has been evident throughout.
With his exceptional performances so far, Shane O’Donnell has been a standout player, and his game against Cork was particularly praiseworthy with tangible support from Mark Rodgers and Peter Duggan also playing well. Their defenders held ground, with John Conlon and Diarmuid Ryan demonstrating tremendous hustle on the offensive end.
Their match against Waterford showed promise, yet it is concerning that they failed to close it out despite opportunities. There was also evident struggle to capitalise on clear scoring chances against Tipperary.
After being largely missing in action, Kelly hasn’t impacted Clare’s scoring average which remains relatively high. Compared to Limerick’s average of slightly more than 30, Clare’s stands at 29. The disparity arises in defence where Limerick are letting in 24 per matc and Clare conceding four more.
That’s where Clare needs to put in work – by solidifying their full back line and reducing giveaways. Conor Leen put up a good game last time and it would be intriguing to see if Brian Lohan gives him another start.
On the other side, Limerick will be without two key forwards, Séamus Flanagan and Peter Casey, who have collectively managed to score 17 points – a significant amount of scoring prowess to compensate for. Flanagan’s performance can be sporadic, but when he gets it right, it leaves a big impact – seen in his three goals against Cork and scoring 0-8 from play against Clare in the Munster final two years ago.
The absence of Casey will be a great disadvantage. He operates like the attacking line’s central processing unit with many plays designed around him, making his absence arguably as damaging to Limerick as Tony Kelly’s has been to Clare.
From what I observed on the final day, they seemed to be in better shape, possibly due to an earlier training period as part of the championship routine. This could explain the off-days that Limerick experienced in the Munster championship throughout the previous couple of years where they occasionally appeared to be lacking energy.
Performing well in the Munster finals has been a necessity for Limerick to overcome Clare. Although there has always been a tight competition between the teams, with scores differing by a small margin, such slim disparities have often proven advantageous for Limerick, which, I predict, will once again be the case.
Regarding Leinster, following the league campaign, I had little optimism for Dublin. Yet, a duo of goals scored against Wexford during the overtime at the championship’s commencement was a game-changer. The entire season and that specific match were hanging in the balance at that moment since they were trailing by five points into overtime, and they were yet to face upcoming rounds.
Like any team, they depend on a handful of crucial players and if these players fail to perform, it becomes an issue. The return of Chris Crummey and Dónal Burke and Eoghan O’Donnell’s freedom from injuries have played a critical role in powering the team into the finals.
Proven to be a commendable coach, Micheál Donoghue’s influence is evident in the strategic form of play adopted by Dublin, which is quite characteristic of modern hurling, despite him lacking Galway’s presence, the team with which he won All-Ireland. His influence is quite evident in the organised and goal-oriented play of the team, contrasting starkly with Galway’s last-round performance, which must have been both vindicating and challenging for Donoghue. Since then, Dublin has shown improvement.
They also had an unfortunate game against Kilkenny at Parnell Park, usually a favourable ground for Kilkenny, given their controlled style of play. However, under Donoghue, Dublin has displayed improved control of the ball and had a faster game pace, a significant progression compared to my observation of Limerick’s performance last year.
In the All-Ireland quarter-final versus Clare, Dublin were down Burke by minute seven, with the notable absence of Crummey as well. His presence is critical, predominantly in the half back position, though he’s been tested in other positions.
Donoghue prefers a straightforward approach, aligning optimal players with their best-suited positions.
Considering the steady improvement, pace and muscularity, as well as plentiful scoring, Dublin deserves fair consideration in this game. With Burke back in his groove and the extremely adept Seán Currie, their confidence is expected to be high.
Their forthcoming Leinster final against Kilkenny will serve as a true measure of their progress. The reigning champions had a reasonable league but have been plagued with injuries since the start of the championship; a situation that has certainly burdened the squad and possibly introduced some doubt. The Carlow outcome was perhaps the most revealing example.
On a better note, they are likely to have Adrian Mullen back on board – a vital asset considering his dominant role in the mid-third, ability to secure possession, readiness to take on the ball, and habitual free-scoring from his left flank. Up to this point, John Donnelly has been their standout player, and his absence would be a significant setback.
They did step up their game in the latter half against Wexford, however, they were barely surviving towards the finale. Although they barely scraped past Dublin, their self-assurance was apparent. Despite their recent struggles, they hold unwavering belief in their ability to repeat their past success this upcoming weekend.
Whilst Kilkenny may seem like a preferable bet, Dublin is in arguably its best position to triumph over them in over a decade.