2027 starts for Tipp on Sunday

GAA: Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 5 Preview

By Shane Brophy

LIMERICK v TIPPERARY

TUS Gaelic Grounds

Sunday, 24th May

Throw-in @ 4.00pm

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

Ahead of the start of the Munster Championship, when the schedule had Tipperary going to Limerick on the final day, the feeling was the Premier needed to have their qualification secured, worst case scenario, still in their hands needing a result, but few would have been predicted having nothing to play for from a Tipperary point of view.

If they are looking at how to deal with such a challenge they only have to look at Clare who were in the same boat last year going to play Limerick on the Ennis Road. The only difference from is that game was a complete dead-rubber as the Shannonsiders were already through to a Munster Final whereas John Kiely’s charges need a win this Sunday to progress to another provincial final.

Not only that, Limerick will be coming in with a point to prove as despite overcoming Waterford last Sunday, manager John Kiely wasn’t happy with the performance saying the post-match review will “be uncomfortable viewing” for the players which gives them a stick to prime them with this week.

For Tipperary, it will be about ending the campaign on a high. Many of the players will know what to expect as in 2024 they played Clare in the final round in Thurles, already eliminated but produced a spirited performance which Liam Cahill referenced as providing the green shoots to rebound spectacularly in 2025.

The Tipperary manager said the Limerick game affords the chance to give opportunities to some younger players but he has to be careful to strike a balance not to throw too many in at one go, peppering the new blood with experience will be the best avenue of producing a strong performance and maybe a result.

There won’t be pressure to win which provides scope for a little freedom to try things but there is a pressure to perform and not end on a real low with five changes made to the starting line-up with Keith Ryan handed his first start at corner back while Stefan Tobin gets his second start at corner forward. There hasn't been a wholesale flood of young blood with Seamus Kennedy, Conor Stakelum and Noel McGrath also coming back into the team.

In reflecting further on Tipp’s inability to get to the right pitch this year compared to last, Cahill pointed to the importance of the league in terms of setting the tone for the championship.

“We've been criticised in the past for going too hard after the league but the league really shows now that you have to be going hard after the league to bring that form into Championship,” he said..

“Clare, albeit they were in Division 1B, they've been really good on the back of going hard at the league.

“Cork and Limerick in the league final, they're in poor position now to get out the gap in Munster.

“Our league was chequered and we were playing catch-up then.”

He added: That's the joys of it, guys. It's a high-performance sport. As I said, they're only human. They do their utmost every day. They put their lives on hold. I'm really proud of them. They've been brilliant players for me and will continue to be. We'll get in behind them again and support them.

“We've had a goodish week in Tipp, winning the minor last night was really good. Fair play to James Woodlock and his troops. Just narrowly defeated in the U20 as well. Some nice players coming through but, as we know, it'll take time for all these to step up into an environment like that.”