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Footballers seek ‘Royals’ repeat

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LIMERICK 4-12, Meath 4-3. That was the scoreline in last season’s qualifiers when Limerick took on Meath. Even though 12 Limerick players survive from that glorious night, the result of this weekends game in Portlaois is never going to be repeated.

Last season’s win for Limerick came on a night when everything went right for Limerick and everything went wrong for Meath.

Ian Ryan’s star was born when he scored 3-7. A feat any player might only achieve once in a career. It also saw the end of Graham Geraghty’s reign as Meath’s talisman.

Limerick face into this weekend’s last round of qualifiers knowing that a win would see them run out at Croke Park in an All Ireland quarter final for the first time ever. History beckons for the men in green. The fact that Limerick are still in the championship in August is a bonus. The team now have three games under their belts and are looking stronger than ever. This journalist has always criticised the forwards. This season however, the six men from 10 to 15 have been a revelation. The defence has always been Limerick’s main strength, but this campaign has seen a cutting edge develop.

Limerick’s march to this round has seen them overcome a fancied Tipperary team, negotiate a sticky Clare side in Ennis and then of course almost pull off the Munster crown against Cork. The only question left for this team to answer is can they deliver against a big team for the full 70 minutes?

Meath are a big team. Even though, once again, they find themselves in the back door route. The Royals find themselves facing a chance to get one back on Limerick after last season’s shambolic display. The men from Meath arrived in round four by virtue of wins over Waterford, Westmeath and Roscommon. The Royals first outing of the season ended in defeat to Leinster champions Dublin. Meath have scored 71 points in four games. That is 17.75 points a game. Seventeen points of course is something that you are not going to score against Limerick. Limerick have scored 41 points in their three games, making that an average of 13.67. However, Limerick have only conceded, 36 points in the three games. In fact, they have only conceded 12 exactly in each game. This statistic is phenomenal. Any team that can keep inter county teams to 12 points is truly in with a shout. Limerick’s mantra on Saturday night will be to stifle Meath and unleash the likes of Ger Collins and Ian Ryan. Much the same game plan as last year. The difference however is that Meath now know what to expect. Last year the favourites tag weighed on their shoulders and they underestimated Limerick. That will not happen again. Limerick, being the beaten provincial finalists, will be slight favourites for this one. This is both a testament to how far Mickey Ned and Donie Buckley have brought this side, but also it is a dangerous position to be in. The mood in the camp this week needs to be right. The mental approach to Saturday will be key. Can this Limerick team handle being the favourites? Can they handle having the counties name in the quarter final and semi final draws already?

The news from the camp is that Jim O Donovan (back), Ger Collins (ankle) and Seanie Buckley (hamstring) are the major doubts. O Donovan being the most troublesome. If O Donovan doesn’t start then the management have a tough decision to make. Who would partner Galvin in the middle. The axis of O Donovan and Galvin have dominated all before them this season so far, so the choice at eight could prove crucial. If O Donovan starts, he may not make it all the way through. Conor Mullane has been training well. Jason Stokes, Dermot Phelan and Thomas Cahill are all options. Stephen Lucey is another who could fill the spot, but I am sure the selectors would want to replace O Donovan in a straight swap instead of shuffling the entire half backline.

The winning and losing of this one will again come down to the battle at midfield. Limerick, with the experience of the Cork loss now filed away have all the ammo need to put this one away. Dare, I even say this. Limerick are favourites to win this one and will. That even sounds  weird to say. Limerick to win in football? Hurlers in the semi final? Wake me up when September comes.

Probable Limerick Team:

S Kiely, S Gallagher, J Mc Carthy, M O Riordan, S Lavin, S Lucey, P Ranahan, J O Donovan/C Mullane, J Galvin, P Browne, C Joyce Power, S Buckley, G Collins, S Kelly, I Ryan.

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