Clare have chosen the lesser of two evils.
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Minimal match discussion yet. This game looks like a role reversal of the 2018 final in terms of team profiles.
For a few years now Clare and then cork have shown the way to take on Limerick is by pushing up on them. The received wisdom is that if you withdraw a player against limerick they’re too good at working the ball through the lines and retaining possession and will cut you apart. I’m not so sure that holds true any more. We’ve changed approach and personnel and are not as good at the short game as we used to be and that’s been clear for some time. We’re also not as good at retaining possession as before as shown by Clare taking the ball off us repeatedly going through the middle third last week. So instead of suiting us I think this Galway setup will cause limerick real problems, though I expect we’ll manage it a lot better than cork. We have Nash to raid up the field and I expect him to be prominent. We’re not as stacked as before on long range shooting either, but have more players than cork to take those shots on. Byrnes will rack them up, hego will be a marked man so may not have the opportunity, CON can hit them but can also hit them anywhere, O’Connor can hit them too but I think he’ll be on the inside line. Galway also ate cork on breaks and this is something we have struggled on against cork in recent years, although we’re better on these this year with CON and English in particular.
Other concerns from a limerick point of view include form lines and form generally. Limerick just barely got past a cork team that Galway dismantled. Form of key players is a concern too, after burning it up early in the season Gillane is off it. Dan Morrissey had a poor day out the last day and DOD was completely shut down. Limerick started the game poorly with loads of passes going astray and out over the sideline, will need to be tuned in from the start. We are also really struggling to reflect our dominant periods on the scoreboard.
Against that, it looks like we’ve everyone fit and will probably put out the best starting fifteen we’ve had yet this season and have a very decent set of subs to come in. Lynch has been little seen this season and his importance is overlooked, he’s still our best player and having in from the start and presumably at 11 will make a big difference. The way we’ve dug in in games has been class, real feel of a team on a mission, and our record in finals is great. We’ve shown very well in patches and you’re hoping we put more of those together and hit a performance level we think is still in this team.
Limerick by five.
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Knowing kiely and Kinnerk they won’t change much for the Galway approach, they rarely change the system.
Cian lashing out.
Erratic displays in every RR game and disappearing in games.
Our shooting under no pressure
The celebrations after Munster.
The jitters first half v Clare.
Hego crying at full time v Clare.
That’s all the hallmarks of a team wound up. What was once a well oiled machine that trusted the process knows that father time is on the horizon. They want this a bit too badly if that makes sense and there’s fear in them.
I hope reaching the final is a release in itself.
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Our from play conversion ratio <50% - has been lowest ever. Which has led to a 1-21 score line against cork and Clare, very unlikely we will get close to Galway with such a low tally, they are averaging 45-50 shots a game
I’d expect Galway to press more like the second half against cork, they won’t get away with giving limerick a free puckout to 45.
This is a game where limerick will need Adam, DOD and Lynch all to start, with Cian at 11.
Currid has lost the dressing room
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Nearly caught in the Munster final, nearly caught in the semi final, if it’s tight next week will they hold on for a third time? I certainly get the impression that this is last chance saloon for a lot of the players and management. I’ve said before that I could see Nicky and Dan calling time in the Autum maybe Mike Casey as well. Nicky would be a monumental loss given that no other keeper has even come close to dislodging him. I think there will be a game of cat and mouse especially if LK win. Players waiting to see if JK goes, JK waiting to see what players go before making a call. If Galway win I think the decision will be made a lot easier for anyone on the fence. I have a slight, slight feeling for Galway. Donoghue is shrewd. Unless I’m wrong and then I confidently predict limerick by 27 points😂
Limerick were plsnning going back to the woodlands after the match. Cork had the Burlington booked and cancelled. The Burlington got Limerick to take the booking.
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If Nash runs up the field and leaves Whelan to make hay, he’ll be a silly Nash.
Smart play from theLimericks. They probably got a discount on the Burlo.
Is there anything they had not booked well in advance of the final?
It’s an awkward one for limerick supporters
I think any Dublin fan watching the analysis of their wides tonight on The Sunday Game will quietly walk away from this game
A place in it.
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Jesus it’s the complete opposite of 2018. We are the favourites, the seasoned, older team. They are the young ones coming in out of nowhere.
Are they that young, though? The Mannion brothers, Daithí Burke, Conors Whelan & Cooney are all around a long time. That’s a third of their team. Limerick had nobody with that experience in 2018.
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Ya it’s a lazy narrative being peddled around.
Ah yeah I was making a general point. They definitely have way more experience than we had in 2018. Sure they have All Ireland winners and all
You’re a lazy narrative
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Jason Rabbite has YHOTY well wrapped up already. He’s already playing like Brian Hayes, he’s phenomenal by any standard, let alone for a 20 year old in his first season.