Jackie Tyrrell: Limerick aura 'slowly eroded' but still playing at high level

RTÉ News​

6 hours ago

Jackie Tyrrell feels Limerick's aura may have "slowly eroded" but that an All-Ireland Hurling semi-final match-up with Kilkenny would be good fixture for both teams, provided John Kiely's side emerge victorious from Saturday's quarter-final against Dublin at Croke Park.
Limerick lost the Munster final to Cork by way of a penalty shootout after a gripping contest a fortnight ago but will be favourites to bounce back when they take on the Dubs this weekend.
The prize for the winner will be a crack at Tyrrell's native Kilkenny in the semi-finals and should Limerick get past Dublin per pre-match expectation, an intriguing clash awaits in two weeks' time, as the nine-time All-Ireland winner told the RTÉ GAA Podcast.
"I think both teams will fancy it if Limerick come home at the weekend," he said of a potential Limerick v Kilkenny clash for the ages.
"I think it's a good fixture for both. I think Kilkenny know the way Limerick play. Limerick are very, very attritional, so are Kilkenny. They'll welcome that.
"They play at a really high level, have some exquisite players, Limerick have. But I think Kilkenny won't be overawed, and I would say the aura of this Limerick team where they were almost unbeatable for years, that has slowly eroded because Cork have beaten them a couple of times now and other teams have beaten them.
"So I don't think that mental baggage that might have been there before when it comes to 60 minutes and Limerick turn the screw, I don't think that's probably as strong as it was before.
"But I think it would be a good fixture for both. I don't think any of them would fear it. I think the fact that it's in Croke Park I think would bring the best out of each other and it would be some, some fixture if it transpires that way."
While Limerick continue to operate at an elite standard, Tyrrell noted brief moments when Kiely's multiple Liam MacCarthy Cup winners have endured uncharacteristic lapses.
"That's only natural and if you look closely and I'm probably being over-critical here, but when did we see a high ball coming in and Nicky Quaid miscontrolling it out for a '65 at a crucial moment?" he said.
"When did we see Darragh O'Donovan, 50 yards out with the chance to win the game, missing it? When did we see Aaron Gillane missing that '21 free? Normally he nails them.
"Peter Casey had a great chance. I know it was windy down there, absolutely, they were out on their feet.
"But they are probably small little traces of just that mental fatigue. Because everytime Limerick have gone out probably for eight years, it's been an All-Ireland final.
"So it's only natural. But still, it's a testament that they still hung in there and for me they didn't really lose the Munster final. Cork beat them in a penalty shootout. It's an amazing feat they're still there playing at such a high level.
"To get over this weekend, I think John Kiely and Derek Lyng will be rubbing their hands at a cut off each other."
However, Dublin are still part of the equation although they will be underdogs against Limerick on Saturday.
In terms of the gameplan that could give Dublin an outside chance of staging an upset, Tyrrell feels going long and direct and trying to discommode the Limerick half-back line could be "the only option".
"You have to engage this Limerick team physically, just to survive and be in the game," he said.
"Maybe we will see Conor Burke for the first 15-20 minutes maybe dropping in centre-back and maybe Chris Crummey dropping off or maybe Conor Burke will just go back because they just need to stay in the game, build from there and get their confidence.
"Is there merit in putting Ronan Hayes or Hedgo (John Hetherton) on the edge of the square and going long and direct? Because I don't think running through this Limerick team, you're going to get much success. They're just too physical and powerful for this Dublin team right now.
"So maybe that long ball route in - you've seen the success that Brian Hayes probably has early in there - although Seán Finn and Mike Caseh are extremely good defenders, they're not going to be catching balls.
"If they can break that ball, move Kyle Hayes around... there's probably elements of the Cork game that Dublin can look at. How they interchanged their half-forward line, how they moved Kyle Hayes around and maybe bypassing that half-forward line, trying to pull them out and go long in and see if they can get success.
"But staying in the game, growing into the game is hugely important from Dublin. The thing from Dublin though is they have been leaking soft goals throughout this round robin and that's maybe why there is merit in dropping an extra man back."