An opportunity for Tipp to solve the Limerick conundrum

GAA: National Hurling League Division 1A Round 4 Preview

By Shane Brophy

TIPPERARY v LIMERICK

FBD Semple Stadium

Saturday, 21st February

Throw-in @ 5.30pm

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

Tipperary might be defending All-Ireland senior hurling champions but one of the things they have still to do is to solve the Limerick conundrum.

To say that Limerick have had Tipperary’s number over the last eight years would be an understatement. Not since a league semi-final victory in 2018 have Tipperary beaten Limerick in a game that mattered.

Since then, the sides have met in seventeen competitive games between the pre-season Munster League, National League and Munster Championship with Limerick emerging winners on twelve occasions, with three draws, with Tipperary coming out the right side just twice.

Both were in 2019 when Tipp won a Munster League encounter in January and then the group stage of the round-robin championship, winning 1-22 to 0-21 at Semple Stadium in a game where Limerick rested three key players as they were virtually qualified for the final, where two weeks later, the Shannonsiders showed their true selves by crushing Tipp 2-26 to 2-14 in the Munster Final at the Gaelic Grounds.

So, in advance of next Saturday’s latest encounter, Tipperary are on a twelve game winless run against John Kiely’s charges, although three of those matches have ended in draws, two in the Munster Championship in 2023 & 2025.

Limerick remain the one conundrum Liam Cahill and Michael Bevans have yet to crack, even going back to their Waterford days when they lost the 2020 Munster & All-Ireland Finals in Covid year, and a year later Limerick had their measure in the All-Ireland semi-final.

So, this is one of a number of reasons why Tipperary would want to get that little monkey off the back, particularly as their next scheduled meeting with Limerick (unless they meet in the league final) is in the final game of the Munster Championship round-robin on May 24th in the Gaelic Grounds when progression to the All-Ireland Series could be on the line for both sides.

Liam Cahill has also made a big deal of turning FBD Semple Stadium into a true home advantage for the Premier County, and since the back-to-back Munster championship losses to Cork and Clare in 2024, Tipp are six games unbeaten at Tom Semple’s Field going back to the start of the league in 2025.

One of those was the draw with Limerick in the opening round of last years Munster Championship when the Tipperary players, mentors and supporters finally believed they had turned the corner, particularly after Limerick’s now established post half time burst which erased a three point lead for Tipp at half time into a two point deficit.

This is when Tipperary had to dig in and did so with John McGrath rediscovering himself on route to becoming hurler of the year and the team to become All-Ireland champions.

Tipperary v Limerick - 2018 to 2026

2018

National League Semi-Final at Semple Stadium: Tipperary 2-31 Limerick 1-31 (AET)

Munster Championship at the Gaelic Grounds: Limerick 1-23 Tipperary 2-14

2019

Munster League at the Gaelic Grounds: Tipperary 4-14 Limerick 2-17

National League at the Gaelic Grounds: Limerick 1-21 Tipperary 1-14

Munster Championship at Semple Stadium: Tipperary 1-22 Limerick 0-21

Munster Final at the Gaelic Grounds: Limerick 2-26 Tipperary 2-14

2020

Munster League at the Gaelic Grounds: Limerick 2-22 Tipperary 1-17

National League at Semple Stadium: Limerick 2-14 Tipperary 0-18

Munster Semi-Final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh: Limerick 3-23 Tipperary 2-17

2021

National League at the Gaelic Grounds: Limerick 0-20 Tipperary 0-20

Munster Final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh: Limerick 2-29 Tipperary 3-21

2022

Munster Championship at the Gaelic Grounds: Limerick 3-21 Tipperary 0-23

2023

National League Semi-Final at the Gaelic Grounds: Limerick 1-28 Tipperary 0-25

Munster Championship at Semple Stadium: Tipperary 0-25 Limerick 0-25

2024

National League at Pairc Ui Chaoimh: Limerick 0-26 Tipperary 3-16

Munster Championship at the Gaelic Grounds: Limerick 2-27 Tipperary 0-18

2025

National League at the Gaelic Grounds: Limerick 0-30 Tipperary 1-23

Munster Championship at Semple Stadium: Tipperary 2-23 Limerick 2-23

Injury situation

Getting a win over Limerick is long overdue and while it won’t be the be-all and end-all if they don’t get it next Saturday evening, it’s hard not to think that this was one of the key games marked off by the management of the six in the league schedule.

Coming off the back of a welcome weekend off, although it was not for six of the panel who featured in the Fitzgibbon Cup final last Friday night at Croke Park.

There was mixed injury news from UL’s success over Mary Immaculate College with Aaron Morgan limping off for the victors in the second half with the recurrence of a hamstring injury, however, Joe Caesar made his return from a similar injury for Mary I in an attacking role where he scored 1-3 from play in the 4-31 to 3-21 defeat.

Darragh McCarthy (0-8, 7 frees), Oisin O’Donoghue (0-1) and Conor Martin (used sub) also featured for UL while Adam Daly started for Mary I in the half-forward line.

On the injury front ahead of Saturday night, Tipperary manager Liam Cahill is hopeful that captain Ronan Maher (groin) will be available for selection for the first time this season. He lined out against Wexford in a challenge game last week.

Robert Doyle (hamstring) and Brian McGrath (ankle) should also be in contention to feature but Michael Breen will miss out through with a calf issue.

Tipperary could also be without Jason Forde who is set to serve a one-match ban for his red card against Cork, however, he has lodged an appeal which will be heard in the coming days in advance of the game.