Limerick GAA - All-Ireland senior hurling champions 2018

A couple of years ago, I would have said that Nash had one of the highest ceilings of ability of any player in the county.

Heā€™s a natural scoretaker, a goalscorer, which isnā€™t that common. Heā€™s big & strong, heā€™s quick, heā€™s decent in the air, heā€™s got a very direct style which causes nightmares for defences.

And to be honest, itā€™s all still true. It comes down to the other sides of the game; does he have not only the work rate, the effectiveness in the tackle and the hurling intelligence to play the position better than whoā€™s there? Probably not. Centre-forward, maybe, but again, would never be the type to drop off and play as an extra midfielder.

Inside, maybe; his first touch is decent, heā€™d definitely be a goal threat. But look at the competition for places there. Iā€™d say heā€™s one of those players that if he got a chance and a run of games, could nail down a position with his form. Leaving the panel that time has really hurt his chances, he had been looking dangerous at full-forward and has never got the same run of games since.

I wouldnā€™t write him off, heā€™s still a nice player to have on the bench and if heā€™s got the drive & determination, heā€™ll have a long career for Limerick.

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All youā€™ve got to do to figure out why Nash, or to a lesser extent Colin Ryan, arenā€™t getting into the team is look at Seamie Flanagan and how he has worked to get himself into the physical condition he is in, how he took his opportunity this winter just passed, how he basically single handedly kept us in the championship with his display v Cork, a lad that couldnā€™t get a game for his countyā€™s U21 side the year before.

He didnā€™t lick it off a plate

A tough breed alright but thereā€™s far more to the lad than that too

True. Heā€™s more hurling than the auld fella ever did

Interesting nobody flagged Byrnes getting dropped.

I think we have a couple of fantastic hurlers at the momentā€¦ Finn, Hayes, Lynch & Peter Casey. We have a group below that level who could be considered the same if they continue to develop and improveā€¦ Mike Casey, Hannon, both Morrisseys, DOā€™D, Mulcahy, Flanagan & Gillane. The rest are functional. Richie English and Byrnes are the weak links in our defence and Gearoid Hegarty is limited but completely committed. Arguably, therefore, they are the most important three in our team.

It wonā€™t happen for Limerick this year but if the development continues, starting with Sunday, we wonā€™t be far away for the next year or two.

Rathkeale were poor tonight. But a win is a win. 3 from 3, been a long time since that happened

We have to win on Sunday, and I think we will.

Discipline with regards to stupid frees will be key along with Flanagan breaking even with Walsh.

Kiely and co need to be brave as well, they were poor tactically vs Clare playing sweepers out of fear down by 4 pts at halftime with the breeze.

Its a game we just have to go out and perform in, let each man go out to win his own battle and go traditional 15 on 15, if the Dow is to get a cameo this is a prerequisite.

If we hit the level that this group are capable of, we will win by 4/5 points.

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Did Shane Dowling pick up an injury doing press during the week?

No, heā€™s available for selection. Just taking the heat off the starters. A trick Kiely learned from Cody.

Shane is an ambassador for Limerick. A really great guy.

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Sore throat from talking to the media.

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I presume richie mc will cover the full back line with mike Casey moving to one of the corners if needs be? WOD to cover the half backs? Or hickey?

Hickey Iā€™d say

Not from What I saw last Saturday evening

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What did you see, Mike?

Things that cannot be unseen

Heā€™s past it Iā€™m afraid

I would have said WOD first; based on the Cork game.

POL & Hickey then.

McCarthy then Hickey for the full-back line.

Hegarty is an option too, drop back and bring in a forward. He filled in wing back after condon got the line until half time below in Ennis. Heā€™s a natural back