Thurles is going to be full of craic and life from early on this Sunday. The All-Ireland champions are in town and Tipp have a chance to knock them out of the championship.
Of course Cork will have to beat Clare to ensure that happens but the possibility is there. That adds to the ingredients of drama and energy we associate with Munster hurling.
Tipp appear to be rejuvenated this campaign. We will know more on Sunday evening after the 76th championship meeting between Tipp and Limerick.
The midfield match ups will be key. Noel McGrath is swarming the midfield and mopping up loose ball. The reality is Limerick won't allow him as much time on the ball as Clare and Cork did.
If they do allow him to set up attack after attack like he did against Cork it will go a long way towards a Tipp victory. Likewise Cian Lynch for Limerick. He will have to be held tightly as the more freedom he gets to hurl, the more scores he will set up.
Will Cathal Barrett pick up Arron Gillane? Will Declan Hannon mark Gearoid O'Connor? Will Limerick hold an ace on the bench?
Tipp matched Limerick for part of the league meeting this spring but eventually the class of Limerick subs ground down Tipperary so it remains to be seen if Tipp can stay in the game longer this time around or build up an early lead.
Early goals were a feature of Tipp and Clare in Ennis and no doubt an early ball will be fired towards Quaid to test the Limerick rearguard that looks more vulnerable without Sean Finn.
Talk of Limerick players leaving their panel has been all the rage of late but it is just rumour and hearsay.
The reality is Limerick will be without Sean Finn because of a knee injury and he is a huge loss. They have dealt with loss before, being without Cian Lynch in the All-Ireland final last year so it remains to be seen how they will adapt to this setback.
There will surely be a kick in them after losing to Clare and three weeks without a game came at a good time for them.
Tipperary supporters are starting to believe again following the win in Clare and the draw in Cork. The defence conceded big scores on both occasions but the forwards were really on form.
The UL students, with Fitzgibbon cup medals, Bryan O'Mara and Gearoid O'Connor have really shone this championship as has Alan Tynan in centrefield. Tipp needed that new blood filtering into the side and it sets us up for an absorbing game of hurling on Sunday.
Over recent years Limerick have had the measure of the blue and gold but this Liam Cahill drilled team have the best opportunity to shine. They will relish it. We will really know what Limerick bring to the championship this Sunday.
It is knockout hurling for them. What a game in store.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
• 2022: Limerick 3-21 Tipperary 0-23 (Munster round robin)
• 2021: Limerick 2-29 Tipperary 3-21 (Munster final)
• 2020: Limerick 3-23 Tipperary 2-17 (Munster semi-final)
• 2019: Limerick 2-26 Tipperary 2-14 (Munster final)
• 2019: Tipperary 1-22 Limerick 0-21 (Munster round robin)
TIPPERARY v LIMERICK
Tipperary are on three points after two games; Limerick are on two points from two games.
*The counties have met 75 times in the championship (71 in Munster, one in the All-Ireland semi-final (2009) and one in the All-Ireland qualifiers (2004) with the results standing as follows:
Tipperary 36 wins; Limerick 28 wins; Draws 10.
*Limerick have beaten Tipperary in their last four championship clashes, leaving the Premier seeking their first success since a Munster ‘round robin’ clash in 2019.
*Limerick will play Cork in the final round; Tipperary will play Waterford.
TOP SCORERS – CHAMPIONSHIP 2023
LIMERICK
1. Aaron Gillane..........0-14 (0-11 frees)
2. Seamus Flanagan...3-2
3. Diarmaid Byrnes....0-8 (0-8 frees)
4. Tom Morrissey........0-6 (0-1 free)
TIPPERARY
1. Jason Forde..............2-10 (0-9 frees, 1-0 pen, 1-1 s/l)
2. Jake Morris..............2-7
3. Gearoid O’Connor.....1-5 (0-3 frees)
4. Mark Kehoe............1-5
MUNSTER TABLE
.......................P........W.....D....L..... For.........Ag....... +/-.......Pts
Clare................3........2.......0.....1......6-69....7-58......+8.........4
Cork................2........1.......1....0.......4-46....2-43......+9........3
Tipperary........2.........1.......1.....0.....7-47....7-42......+5........3
Limerick...........2........1.......0.....1.....3-38.....1-43.......+1.......2
Waterford.........3........0......0....3......0-53....3-67......-23........0
