After a week’s hiatus, the Munster Senior Hurling Championship is back. An opportunity for sides to review their performances to date as well as a chance to earmark this weekend as the weekend to send out the performance to spook the rest of the competition. Hawkeye Sidekick looks at the fixtures up for decision.
Do or Die contest at Walsh Park
Waterford are in must win territory; two disappointing losses to Clare and Tipperary has the Deise with their backs against the wall. This weekend sees Limerick travel to Walsh Park who themselves are looking for a performance and result after a disappointing opening fixture loss to Cork at home.
How is the fixture going to go? I expect Waterford this time around in Walsh Park to produce a stirring display. The shackles of the opening home fixture are a distant history and the side know that they have to deliver this weekend, otherwise their season is up at 4pm tomorrow.
Waterford need their leaders to set to the mark. Austin Gleeson needs to be the focal point for this side; his performances to date in the championship have seen flashes of brilliance but Waterford need more from their outfield talisman. Dare I say will Waterford management ask Gleeson to roam in the middle third for possession as his vision and game reading are sensational.
With Philip O’Mahony out of the fixture, the mantle of defensive leadership needs to come from the likes of Connors, Moran and Fives. These players are vastly experienced and need to create the defensive platform for the middle third to prosper.
Can Maurice Shanahan provide the physicality and composure in the full forward line to unsettle Limerick defensively? Shanahan on his day is an absolute nightmare to contain so it will be interesting to see if Limerick decide to withdraw Declan Hannon back in front of the full back to mope up Waterford long ball in?
Limerick have been stung after their home loss to Cork. It can be seen as a blessing given that it happened so early in the championship. This two week window has given John Kiely and management an opportunity to reflect and regroup the panel to deliver a better overall performance this weekend.
For Limerick to win this fixture, look at the performance of the middle third in the first quarter. The half back line so usually a rock for this side were pulled out of position and Cork were able to create numerous opportunity for Horgan and Cadogan inside. The Limerick half back line never setup the platform during the contest; a repeat of the Cork showing and John Kiely’s men are facing into another loss.
The Limerick management have tweaked the starting lineup. Two personnel changes from the side that lost to Cork. Byrnes and O’Donovan drop out for O’Loughlin and O’Donoghue who will bring height and physicality to proceedings but will this affect the Limerick running game in the middle third?
I was surprised that Limerick only dropped two players from the starting lineup. Several forwards were on the cusp after their Cork cameos. It is a huge day for Peter Casey tomorrow; ability is not in question but he needs to provide scoring threat inside to complement Gillane now as he was sporadic in his contribution last time out.
50/50 call. I always fear a side who are facing a potential last man standing scenario. This is where Waterford are this weekend, expecting the home side to tear into Limerick early. The Limerick performance in the opening quarter should set the tone for them, players will look to rebound from that troubling opening day loss.
The tight confines of Walsh Park does no favors for this Waterford side, they have played better in the confines of Thurles in recent years which showcases their pace and mobility out wide. This is a contest where physicality could be decisive and I think Limerick have the edge in this department.
There is a question mark on the Waterford full back position and with Aaron Gillane looking to provide a reminder of his talents, Limerick for me have the edge by three to four points. A far from perfect Limerick performance but I think this group of players are looking to redeem themselves after the Cork loss.
The real test starts for Tipperary
There has been plenty of positive, feel good commentary coming from the media and within the Tipperary camp in the last two weeks. Tipperary are back. Hold on, not too quickly as the next two Munster Championship fixtures will tell plenty of where Tipperary are.
Why do I say this? Cork were indifferent in the opening round, exposed Tipperary discipline in the opening period. Waterford were reduced to fourteen players, staged a superb twenty minute salvo thereafter until Tipperary scored that opening goal. There are areas of both performances which Liam Sheedy and management will not be happy with.
Saying that, Tipperary’s forward line units have gone extremely well aided in no small part to the performances of the Maher’s in the half back line and the resurgence of Michael Breen in the middle third. The movement and scoring prowess of the Tipperary has been sensational.
The Tipperary forward line face their toughest test to date. Cusack Park is an old school pitch, tough road trip venue, supporters are on your back from minute one. The Clare setup will be interesting in the middle third, look to cut the space for the Tipperary forward line by deploying the likes of Ryan and Duggan in deep positions.
Clare are my fancy for Munster SHC honors this season. There is a potency in their aerial threat with Ryan and Duggan in the half forward providing excellent primary possession options for Tuohy in goal. Tony Kelly free flowing displays, game reading par excellence lit up the Waterford opening round victory.
The Banner County have superb options in midfield to contribute in the scoring department. Colm Galvin is a player who continues to excel and then you have the threat of the front two of John Conlon and Shane O’Donnell inside where their understanding and prowess is impressive.
The role of Podge Collins in this fixture could make or break this fixture. The Cratloe man will be roaming around the middle third, picking up the second ball and looking to provide both defensive and attacking options for his side. What do Tipperary do with the player? Zonal mark Collins or look to man mark the player out of the contest but leave space inside for Conlon and Collins?
This is the pick of the games this weekend. Clare are a formidable side at home and expect that to continue. Tipperary’s back line is prone to conceding easy frees and with Peter Duggan looking as sharp as last season, it will provide Clare with easy scores to settle into the contest.
The manner in which Tipperary will look to solve Clare’s middle third setup will be the talking point; potential and skill set in the side but Liam Sheedy and management may need to execute a running based game at times to create space for the Tipperary inside full forward line in the final quarter. It is all set up to be an excellent day of small ball.