LIMERICK may have lost 2-20 to 1-19 to Tipperary last Sunday evening in Thurles, but all is not lost in terms of Championship 2012. Limerick will now face the qualifier route once more, commencing on June 23rd against a yet unknown opponent.
Limerick had led last year’s All Ireland finalists Tipperary by six points at one stage in the second half. However, Tipperary’s strength and depth off of the bench lead to a spirited comeback from Declan Ryan’s men.
Limerick’s manager John Allen, in charge of his first Munster Championship game with Limerick felt that Tipperary’s bench was indeed the difference, but there were positives in defeat.
“There were massive positives. At the end of the day it is a results business. We wanted to win. We thought we could win. The bookies, the public and the press didn’t give us a chance. The training has been great the last couple of weeks and it was a heroic performance really. The difference probably was that Tipperary had some very experienced players on their bench who had a point to prove. They made a huge difference when they came on and that changed the game for us”.
With Limerick running the second best team in the country so close, the fans will take huge optimism from the defeat. As it seems, will the manager.
“There are extremely good hurlers in Limerick. If you take the last three All Ireland finals as a barometer, the intensity is huge. It is very high octane work. If Limerick can match that then they are as good as any team. It is matching that intensity is the key and we did that today. You saw Kilkenny in the league final. It was done and dusted after 10 minutes, such was their intensity. That is where we are trying to go. Everybody needs to work at 100% until the very end. I am so proud of the lads today that they were just busting their behinds to get to that level”.
With the qualifiers now three weeks away, Limerick might even be stronger upon their return.
“We have three weekends after next weekend to prepare for the qualifiers. Declan Hannon will have had three extra weeks to train. Seamus Hickey might even be back. Those two will then be putting pressure on people for places. That can only be good for the camp. That will keep every fella smart and willing to push it out more” added Allen.
Limerick may not be winning the Munster championship this season, but if last Sunday’s performance can be replicated in the qualifiers, several teams will want to avoid the Treatymen in the later stages of the All Ireland.
