It’s a big weekend for Tipperary hurling with the prospects of knocking the Munster and All-Ireland champions out of the 2023 championship looming on the horizon.
If results go in a particular way – as in, if Cork beat Clare in Ennis on Sunday in the earlier game, Tipperary will know that victory on home turf against the visitors will see John Kiely’s men have their shortest season in many years.
Now there are a few if’s in that statement. Cork beating high-flying Clare in Cusack Park is a bit of a tall order. But, they have to do if they want to progress to the All-Ireland series. On the other hand, Clare won’t want a second home defeat in the championship and will be doing all in their power to add to their four point tally. This will be a humdinger of a game and it will set the tone for the later throw-in when Tipperary entertain the champions in FBD Semple Stadium.
A Clare victory would confirm their place in the Munster Final and that would mean that Cork would have to go to the Gaelic Grounds for their final game of the season and get a win. Were Limerick to beat Tipp, and Tipp beat Waterford in the final round, the clash of Cork and Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds would be a winner takes all clash. As you can see from the above, there are still many permutations which could arise with the only certainty at this stage being that Waterford are out of contention.
The Deise have had a very poor campaign but they would love to finish their season with a win against Tipp in that last round robin game in Semple Stadium. Should Tipp lose to Limerick next Sunday, they will need to win that final game to progress.
Without a doubt, next Sunday is the big one from a Tipp perspective. The side has come through some very testing moments already in the championship, but with John Kiely’s men having had three weeks off to reassess their health following a few below par showings which included that defeat to Clare in TUS Pairc na nGael , they will travel with renewed vigour and verve. Tipp have had two weeks off and they will need to bring huge energy and drive to this clash if they are to match the fancied Limerick men.
Tipp love the underdog tag and they will wear it again on Sunday. This is a real chance to lay down a marker and to measure the progress of the side against the best around. Forget the league campaign – that semi-final evening in Limerick is long since in the rear view mirror and the players do not need to have it referenced in order for them to know what they must do next Sunday. No, Tipp are well aware of what’s coming and will be ready for it. Win and their credentials will soar. Lose, and the campaign is still very much alive. What better scenario could Liam Cahill have as he leaves Semple Stadium at tea-time on Sunday?
There’s a lot of discussion about what John Kiely might do to freshen up his side – there has been a lot of loose talk about Limerick being on the wane a bit. Don’t buy into it. Limerick will come at Tipp like crazed and wounded animals – talk of their demise will have hurt them and the Manager will not have needed all that much to motivate his men again. The motivation will come from within and if they get the chance to place a foot on the throat of Tipperary they will apply the pressure to suffocate the Premier challenge. So, Tipp have to ensure that Limerick do not get the stranglehold in the game and that means throwing everything at them from the very off. It means tightening the rearguard ten-fold; not allowing shooting from distance; preventing the runners from coming deep; circumventing overlaps; taking chances at the other end; and hitting Limerick with a sustained intensity for the bones of an hour and a half. Simple stuff really!!
Don’t be surprised to see Kyle Hayes operating at centre forward in this game as Limerick bid to resume havoc in attack. Defensively they have lost Sean Finn and there are question marks over captain Declan Hannon’s fitness too. Cian Lynch has been struggling also, but these are big game players and when they are needed they usually deliver. So, Tipp need to expect the unexpected, embrace it and get on with it. There will be setbacks in this game, but getting over those setbacks, finding ways around them, and ploughing on will be the key.
Without doubt Jason Forde is a big loss, but there are others itching to get in – well, if you are fortunate enough to be an inter county hurler, these are the games you live for after all.
This promises to be a battle royale with Semple Stadium rocking. Let’s hope for a cracking Munster hurling contest and the right result.
