As the initial stage of the championship concludes this weekend, it has been anything but smooth sailing. Despite the excitement and suspense of the early-season orchestrated by Munster, Leinster’s journey has been filled with unexpected events.
An imminent final turn of the wheel is anticipated. Had anyone suggested seven weeks prior that Limerick will have to vie against Waterford in the Gaelic Grounds to safeguard their future, they undoubtedly would have faced skepticism.
Limerick has justifiable reasons to be apprehensive about the impending Sunday. Initially, my consensus leans towards their victory, but this is hinged on the precondition that they do not assume the outcome. In the early 2020s, the consistent point differential between the clubs in Croke Park was 11.
The gap was narrower within the bounds of Munster. Reflecting on two years ago, Waterford, having claimed the league title, offered a commendable resistance in the Gaelic Grounds, albeit resulting in a slim loss. In the previous season, the differences between the teams were minuscule, disregarding Limerick’s final quarter played without Gearóid Hegarty due to a red card.
Waterford’s performances in all their games thus far have been laudable. They had an initially robust defence led by Conor Prunty and Tadhg De Búrca, but an injury to Prunty after a single full game left them vulnerable, resulting in four goals against them last week with even potential for more. They were notably exceptional at full strength, restraining Cork – the new exemplary team – to 1-25, a score which has since surpassed an average of nine points.
What has struck me most about Waterford is not individual prowess, but their resilience; their determined near comeback in the last game where they lagged behind substantially since the beginning is testament to that. The fact they have conceded in injury time to Tipperary and Clare has cost them a point, otherwise they’d already have a Munster final under their belt.
Considering all these factors, Waterford’s passion and prowess should not be underestimated. If they can maintain this consistency through three matches, dependability should be no issue in the fourth. They are expected to bring their A-game.
The season hasn’t been smooth for Limerick, as they’ve struggled in the defence and have also encountered more injuries than the norm. There’s been a significant drop in their performance in the middle third, a zone that they’ve previously dominated. Their star player, Diarmaid Byrnes, hasn’t been able to reach the heights of his hurler of the year performances of earlier times. His issues with free-taking and shooting in general reflect the team’s underlying problems.
Despite these issues, the team nearly came out on top in their tense face-off against Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, scoring 3-26 and leading by four as the game neared its end. Even with the current performance slump, Limerick’s quality is still evident. Prior to the championship, not many teams were seen as potential threats to them, but similar to last year, they’ve been performing below their usual standard.
This pattern was displayed in their critical match against Cork a year ago. The majority of Munster’s teams are evenly matched, with Limerick’s exceptional performance in the later stages of the game being their signature move throughout the decade.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Tipperary is currently heavy following their crushing defeat to Cork. However, the last-round games, free from any additional pressures and focused solely on pride, could potentially reignite the teams’ spirits. Tipperary, having previously been defeated by Waterford in a similar situation, know this all too well.
Yet Clare possesses a formidable skill-set that Tipperary found challenging against Cork; speed, explosive power, and striking accuracy. Players like Shane O’Donnell, David Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Ryan and Mark Rodgers are on fire right now, causing a wave of concern for the opposition.
Tipperary’s performance has been on a decline ever since their harsh defeat to Clare in the league at Portlaoise. Historically, it’s uncommon for a Tipperary team to bounce back from a disappointing league season. Their prime championship performance this year was witnessed in Waterford, a narrow pitch. Once back on their home ground, the vast space of Thurles may further worsen their plight.
The most chaotic end to a championship that I recall was at a game I was covering in Wexford five years back. The local team’s draw with Kilkenny brought about a lot of confusion and nobody seemed to have a clear understanding of the situation.
Indeed, both squads successfully made it to the final, creating a buzzing atmosphere within the stadium, particularly during the unpredictable game at Parnell Park where Dublin managed to narrowly defeat Galway. Leinster decided to remain with these pairings where there remain four contenders for three spots.
Dublin, with their commendable past performance against Galway, displays no apprehensions about facing them. They did a good job against Kilkenny last week, nearly grasping victory, but were hindered by their tendency for wides. Despite being primarily under pressure in Wexford, they managed a draw with some last-minute goals – a significant achievement for the team.
Dónal Burke has returned and is playing well. Despite his mid-20s age, his experience is noteworthy, alongside established players such as Chris Crummey and Eoghan O’Donnell who are high performers. They seem to have an understanding of their play and could potentially pose a threat to a Galway team that hasn’t shown much progress in recent years. I wouldn’t be surprised if Galway is overthrown by Dublin.
Wexford have left quite an impression on me, even if my belief in them wasn’t mirrored in their initial championship results. Vital players like Rory O’Connor, Lee Chin, and Liam Ryan are in good shape and playing well, while newcomers such as Richie Lawlor and Cian Byrne have grabbed attention. The latter was, however, rightfully expelled against Galway for a harsh foul.
They’re efficient, handle the ball well, and appear more determined. Mark Fanning’s form is a clear indicator of this. There were times when he seemed to have lost his nerve on frees and in general play, but his vibrant performance this season indicates a resurgence of confidence.
Kilkenny, meanwhile, appears to be stagnating. Whether it’s due to recent injuries to their main players or a string of disappointing performances, events like drawing with Carlow are not in line with the known Kilkenny prowess.
Assuming all players are fit, they stand as favourites, but Wexford has a decent chance at maintaining their recent positive record in this match-up.
Lastly, I would expect Antrim to retain their MacCarthy Cup status against Carlow in Belfast – not much of a consolation for Carlow after an admirable campaign.