LIMERICK Senior hurling coach, Paul Beary spoke to PostSport this week ahead of his side’s clash with Tipperary in the Munster hurling semi final. The Na Piarsaigh club man expects a tight affair, which should see a return to the traditional hurling tactics of 15 on 15, as opposed to what fans witnessed during the Clare game.
How have the panel been since the Clare clash?
Things have been good. It has been a largely upbeat camp. The lads have been busy. After the quarter final, the players were straight back into club action. That was a fairly intensive round of games, which was followed by a challenge match against Kilkenny that same weekend. Fatigue levels were quite high and we were conscious of that. So, the mix has been about getting high intensity training in, while also managing fatigue.
Will the tactical masterclass fans witnessed versus Clare, be needed again this weekend?
It was a tactical warfare against Clare, which both sides had anticipated. There was a long lead in time to that game too. There was more preparation for it. One can expect a different type of game against Tipperary. They would be traditionally attack minded and it should be more of a 15 on 15 type of game. It should be a different type of game in terms of how we prepare ourselves,
Does it stand to the Limerick players, that they have played in and won a tight game?
Perhaps a Limerick team of yester year would have lost that type of game. We certainly did not play to our potential at all in that game. Clare could say the same I am sure. Personally, from the sideline, I was very happy with the resolve shown by the team. There was no sense of panic setting in when it was tight and I think that is a great thing in terms of development long term from the group.
A lot has been made of Limerick’s inability to score multiple goals in games. Is this becoming a worry?
That is something we have discussed. If you look at our opponents, they have the players who are well capable of scoring goals, as well as having the mindset to go looking for goals. There is great appreciation from our set up that we need more goals from the team.
How helpful is having that game under the belt?
Hard to say. Personally, I always like to have game behind you. It allays the fears you have from training. We have that match behind us now and we have learned from the Clare game. I cannot account for what it will be like for Tipperary. Twelve months ago we didn’t have a game played against Tipperary, so it can work both ways. We are definitely delighted to have that game played.
What have you made of your opponents this season?
I was keeping an eye on the Championship predictions from the media before it all kicked off. Tipperary or Kilkenny were the two sides everyone was talking about. That is not a surprise. Tipperary were inches away from winning the All Ireland last season. They are a seriously good team, with clever management. They tick all the boxes needed to be a good championship side.
Who does the ‘three in a row’ motivate more. Limerick or Tipperary?
From our perspective this year is a little different. It was a first game of the championship in the last two seasons, so there was a longer build up into the Tipperary game. We didn’t think of Tipperary until we go over Clare, so the three in a row has not come up really. There were all tight games, so it is going to be marginal once more.
Do Limerick take much positives from the Clare game?
I didn’t dwell too much on stats or even the video. I was happy with the game. Happy with the steely resolve we showed. The panel look to be learning about composure. When to speed things up and when to slow things down. That comes from the players themselves and we, as coaches, can only prepare them so much.
