In the recent Limerick-Clare Munster final, Tony Kelly had the chance to put over a lineball, which would have given us another half-hour of an amazing game. This year, the teams played like they were continuing that contest in extra time in Thurles, resulting in a brilliant match of skilful play and physicality. Despite only losing by one point, Limerick may be in trouble as a team. Before the championship, I believed no one would get close to them, but their drop-off since the league final could result in two losses. As All-Ireland champions, Limerick is finding out that even outsiders will have a go at them, and injuries to key players Seán Finn and Cian Lynch put them under pressure.
On the other hand, Clare hand Limerick their first defeat in four years, right after losing to Tipperary. With David Fitzgerald back on the team, others benefited, resulting in Tony Kelly and Shane O’Donnell being more their usual selves. Although the team’s flaws lie largely in going forward and shooting, they have no issue with their energy and pace, and as a package, they resemble their manager Brian Lohan. However, Cusack Park may not suit their pace and athleticism, and Limerick’s energy and where their scores are coming from is also a concern. While Nickie Quaid kept them in the game with a couple of great saves, only Séamus Flanagan has been scoring goals.
In another match, Waterford was very poor in a disappointing game before a big crowd in Páirc Uí Chaoimh where Cork did what they had to do. They scored plenty of points but did not really threaten goals. Meanwhile, Kilkenny and Galway will almost certainly be in the provincial final as they were operating in a low-pressure environment in Leinster. Daithí Burke was excellent for Galway, holding them together when Kilkenny was threatening to slip out of sight. Evan Cody was also sharp and accurate with the chances he got.
