THE ROAD to Thurles will be well travelled this weekend by Limerick hurling fans as they will make the ‘Trip to Tipp’ two days in a row.
First up, the Limerick senior hurlers will face Dublin in the All Ireland hurling qualifiers on Saturday night at 5pm.
The game, which is also televised live on RTE2, see the two sides meet for the first time since the national hurling league quarter final on March 25, which Dublin won on a scoreline of 1-25 to 0-16.
In terms of preparation for this Saturday’s clash in Thurles, that game is where TJ Ryan and his team have started.
“We have looked at that game. We were very poor that night and Dublin have made a few changes themselves, but we needed to go back and look at it, so start our build up”
Limerick have to prepare for the game without Tom Condon. The stalwart corner back is going to be out for four to six weeks with a shoulder injury and is replaced in the side by Seamus Hickey. The only other change on the side that defeated Westmeath, is Declan Hannon replacing Seanie Tobin on the 40.
“Tom is a loss to us, but we need to make sure we get the right mix for the team too. We will look at training, form, the opposition and the right mix, particularly up front, before deciding on a starting 15 for Saturday. When you have options for a starting team, you know you are doing something right,” added Ryan.
Thurles is almost a second home to Limerick and Ryan knows that his charges need to make that advantage pay.
“Dublin are a physical side, who move the ball well. We need to use the whole of the pitch on Saturday and make sure we use the familiarity of the stadium to our advantage”
The winners of Saturday night’s game will face either Galway or the losers of Tipperary and Waterford in the All Ireland quarter finals.
The curtain raiser to that Munster Senior hurling final, is the Munster minor final, where Limerick under the guidance of Leo O’Connor will face Tipperary at 2pm on Sunday.
Limerick are seeking a three in a row of Munster titles which is something the county has never achieved.
The most recent three in a row was achieved by Cork between 2004 and 2006.
Tipperary’s last three in a row was between 2001 and 2003.Interestingly none of those six Munster title winning teams went on to win the All Ireland.
The last Tipperary versus Limerick Munster Minor Hurling Final was in 1991 when Tipperary won by 4-7 to 1-5 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The last two Munster Minor Hurling finals have been played between Limerick and Waterford with Limerick winning both after replays.
Limerick have defeated Tipperary on the last two occasions they met in the Munster championship – 2013 and 2014. Tipperary’s last defeated Limerick at minor in 2009.
Limerick, captained by Eoghan Mc Namara from Doon are coached by Anthony Daly, while the selectors of the side are Pat Donnelly, John Mulqueen and Brian Foley.
