Former All-Star urges Limerick to let ‘fully grown monster' loose in order to halt Cork hypetrain
LIMERICK could let 'a fully grown monster' loose tomorrow at the TUS Gaelic Grounds as they attempt to show Cork that they remain hurling's scariest proposition.
But former Treaty hero Andrew O'Shaughnessy has warned that the hosts must starve the Rebels' goal-hungry speed merchants if they are to take a big step closer to a SEVENTH straight Munster SHC title.
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O'Shaughnessy feels Limerick will need to keep a particularly close eye on Darragh Fitzgibbon
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Andrew O'Shaughnessy doesn't buy into the notion that the Treaty's stars have too many miles on the clock
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He thinks very highly of 'The Bull' Shane O'Brien
In their last five competitive outings, Cork have raised 19 green flags
O'Shaughnessy believes a priority for Limerick will be to limit the influence of Darragh Fitzgibbon, who netted in a man-of-the-match display in last month's
The Charleville ace, having again been named at centre-forward by Cork boss Pat Ryan, could be closely tracked by another man who was also nominated for the Hurler of the Year award in 2024.
O'Shaughnessy told SunSport: "From midfield up, the Cork lads are all absolute flyers and they love to bomb forward.
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"But with the angles he cuts and his pace going out wide and stuff, Darragh Fitz is just so dangerous. For Limerick to get a result, they'll need to curtail him a good bit.
'If he does end up mostly at centre-forward, he'll probably be on Kyle Hayes and that'd be an interesting battle.
"Of all the Limerick players, the one you'd say who has the athleticism and the ability to get back at speed is Kyle Hayes."
The early Championship trajectory of both teams has been somewhat similar going into the sold-out showdown on Shannonside.
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Following a draw with Clare,
After sharing the points in their opener against Tipp, Limerick made a statement with the manner of their victory over Waterford last time out.
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With two home games to come in the round-robin phase, Treaty boss John Kiely admitted to being 'very happy with the broader picture' after seeing his side run out six-point winners at Walsh Park a fortnight ago.
O'Shaughnessy said: "John Kiely often speaks about the importance of improving incrementally from game to game.
"The Tipp game was one that Limerick could have won, but equally it was a game they should have lost so you would have been content enough with the draw.
"But the improvement came against Waterford then, so there was a response from the players and you'd be hoping for the same thing again on Sunday.
"But the improvement this time will need to be much bigger than what there was from the Tipp game to the Waterford game.
"There's no denying that Cork are the form team and they're blitzing their opposition in the first 15, 20 minutes. The concern I'd have is negating their ability to get goals.
"They've got goals on their mind any time they go forward. They're popping balls out to runners like Darragh Fitz and it's like a bombardment.
"The naysayers would have you believe that Limerick have too much mileage in the legs to be dealing with that because they're starting to slow down.
"Whether that's justified or not, I don't actually believe it myself but that aspect of what Cork are capable of is a concern all the same."
DREAM DASHED
Limerick were in pursuit of a fifth All-Ireland title in a row last summer, only for Cork's victory in an epic semi-final to scupper their hopes of achieving something unprecedented.
It was the Leesiders' second Championship triumph over their neighbours in the space of eight weeks, as the Munster win at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh salvaged their season at a stage when it appeared to be on the brink of collapse.
Still, when asked if the chance to settle a score will provide Limerick with an extra incentive, O'Shaughnessy insisted: "I don't think so whatsoever.
"The way with this Limerick team has always been to focus on their own performance.
"They'd have been annoyed with how they performed last year, not because it was Cork, but because of their own personal side of it and reflecting on the things that didn't go right and what they need to improve on.
"It'll obviously be painted as a chance for payback after they were turned over twice by them last year, but I think these Limerick lads only look at themselves when it comes to righting the wrongs.
"It's actually a different Cork team too because I think they're miles better now than they were this time last year.
"This is a different situation and the past won't have any bearing on it."
YOUNG BULL
An All-Star forward in 2007, O'Shaughnessy's achievement was emulated by clubmate Graeme Mulcahy when he claimed an award in 2018.
Mulcahy retired as a five-time All-Ireland winner last October. Nevertheless, the tradition of Kilmallock men playing key roles in the Limerick attack is being maintained.
Having racked up 1-8 from play across the two Championship games so far this season, Shane O'Brien has shown no signs of difficulty in delivering on his vast potential.
On the young man nicknamed The Bull, O'Shaughnessy said: "The biggest thing I like about Shane is that he's very grounded.
"He's really dedicated to hurling and it's all-consuming for him. His attitude is excellent.
"The fear you'd often have about young players coming into a team at this level is that they could maybe be forced out of games when things get quite physical.
"And if that is the case, you say 'fair enough' because they're young and they're still developing.
"But Shane is one of those fellas who you don't realise the actual size of the man until you stand beside him. He's only 20, 21 years of age but he's absolutely a fully grown monster.
"He's carving out a good career for himself now and long may it last. It's good to see someone else from the club replacing Graeme as well.
"He's a great representative of the club and we're extremely proud of him and how well he's doing."
BORDER BOY
As a native of Kilmallock, which is situated just a few kilometres from Limerick's border with Cork, the rivalry has always been keenly felt by O'Shaughnessy.
Indeed, he spent a significant portion of his youth hurling beyond the frontier as a star of the St Colman's side who achieved three consecutive Harty Cup successes for the Cork school between 2001 and 2003.
He explained: "Growing up, you were well aware of Cork's fantastic history and that Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny were the standard-bearers.
"Any time you'd meet Cork, especially being from Kilmallock, you were determined to beat them and it was great when you did, even though it was rare.
'The tide has turned lately and Limerick were in the driving seat up until the two games last year. But these things always go in cycles.
'We had our hot patch and we made it count.
"Hopefully it's not over just yet but you have to be wise enough to know that other teams are coming now. And Cork are at the forefront of it."
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One of the trickiest challenges a team can face is having to play opponents whom you beat comprehensively just a few weeks previously. That is the task for both provincial champions going into this year's Munster and Leinster finals. Galway and Cork are in the other boat, having had their heads handed to them by Kilkenny and Limerick only a few weeks ago. The imperative for both if they are to have any chance going forward is to close the gap and, with that improvement, gather some momentum. It is obviously more acute for Cork, who, unlike Galway don't look to me as if they're picking up form. They couldn't really have been happy with the mixed performance against Waterford, which provided little reassurance after the mauling in Limerick. Cork have gone from being favourites for the championship to nearly an unknown package in terms of their real worth. READ MORE To re-establish themselves as realistic contenders after losing by 15 points, they need to compete and knock about 10 off that deficit. That's not going to be easy. Limerick were outstanding the last day and although they fell back against Clare, I'm inclined to discount that result. They made plenty of changes but the key men will all be back on Saturday. They blew Cork out the last day, in all areas of the field from Nickie Quaid's puck-outs up to the full forward line. In the end, Cork were looking for the final whistle, just to get out of there. How much weight should be attached to the incentive to do better and potential complacency in the champions' camp? Probably not enough to overturn all known form. Leaving aside the Limerick match, which was a disaster, Cork have been inconsistent, looking very good at times but then in the same games, ineffective. There have been poor second-halves against Clare and Tipperary – twice – and a very mixed bag against Waterford. Defence has been an issue and they are badly hit by injury. Ger Millerick was one of the better performers the last day and he's out but the man he replaced, Niall O'Leary, who had been playing quite well at corner back, is back. Rob Downey has been played when he didn't look fit and didn't line out against Waterford but is named this weekend. On the last trip to the Gaelic Grounds, he was switched with Ciarán Joyce, who was detailed to pick up Cian Lynch – except he didn't. Playing loose at centre back allowed Lynch to pull the strings, which he did to mesmerising effect. Opponents, like fans, are often mesmerised by Limerick's Cian Lynch. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho What happens this time? I said from the start that John Kiely's biggest concern would be to get all his players fit and on the field and that's what has happened. Lynch is a barometer of their wellbeing and his form has been back to its best. In general, they look better than last year. Adam English has become an exceptional midfielder. Cathal O'Neill, one of their best players a year ago, is coming back. Kyle Hayes has strengthened centre back and Barry Nash, who didn't play in last year's semi-final, has slotted in outstandingly well on the left wing. Cork's main platform in the wins over Limerick last year was quick puck-outs and getting the half backs turned. Séamus Harnedy and Declan Dalton caused huge disruption but the last day, Dalton had to go off injured and there's still no sign of him. Harnedy came on and improved things a bit but in the first half against the elements, the likes of Hayes were just unmanageable with the ball in the air, held up in a gusting wind. It really is hard to see anything apart from a Limerick win. Galway also have ground to make up at Croke Park but they certainly have improved since losing in Kilkenny and have found more of a team dynamic. They've become more balanced. There was a lot of experimentation during the league but Micheál Donoghue has put together a team with a lot of the experienced players slotted into place. Their half-back line has become pretty solid. Cianan Fahey, Gavin Lee and TJ Brennan have become quite forceful in that zone. Cathal Mannion has been scoring freely and Conor Whelan, playing a deeper role, and Brian Concannon are picking up form nicely. I felt Dublin would beat them but they were comfortable, scored fluently and never looked in trouble. Kilkenny have been playing quietly off-Broadway, as I've said before. They lost to Wexford in what has nearly become an annual event but they were safely in the final by then. I don't really subscribe to the idea that they are dark horses for the All-Ireland but we'll learn more about them this weekend because it won't surprise me if Galway bring their best display of the year to date. If they do, it will be a significant test. The easy call is Kilkenny but they're still depending on TJ Reid, and Eoin Cody is out with a hamstring injury. Martin Keoghan and John Donnelly have stepped up in recent times and, under Derek Lyng, they always add up to the sum of their parts and often exceed it, but I'm still not convinced. On a final point, we have just had the June bank holiday but there are only seven matches left in the entire championship for the rest of the summer. I know the die has been cast on this but to me, it makes no sense whatsoever.
