Limerick and Waterford meet this Saturday in the first of two tasty All-Ireland semi-finals at Croke Park. OTB look ahead as to what to look out for this weekend.
Saturday's game sees a repeat of last year's Munster and All-Ireland final. Limerick being the victor on both occasions. Waterford haven't beaten Limerick in the last four outings – but can this Waterford panel rise to the challenge?
Goals Galore
31 July 2021; Tipperary goalkeeper Barry Hogan blocks a shot on goal by Austin Gleeson of Waterford during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between Tipperary and Waterford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/SportsfileWaterford are coming into the game packing a punch. Their quarter-final match against Tipperary saw them bag four goals and another three against Laois in the previous round. Throughout this championship campaign, The Déise have racked up some high scoring matches, averaging 36 points per game.
Speaking with OTB's Nathan Murphy on Thursday, former Waterford Hurler Noel Connors backed his county to cause a raucous.
"They're trying to make a bit of chaos. Other teams find it quite difficult to understand what they [Waterford] are trying to do," says Connors.
"They're bringing a lot of bodies behind the ball. Almost like a football strategy. And then they break in numbers with three or four players running off the shoulder. It's very hard to mark".
Midfielder Jamie Barron will be a key dictator in this game getting forward and picking up points from afar. The Nire-Fourmilewater player had been ruled out with injury, but has come back to provide a spring in Waterford's step.
Attacking depth off the bench and the confidence of their high scoring results will spur on Waterford. They'll be helped by the news that Aussie Gleeson looks to be fully fit, despite rumours that he picked up a knock to the knee.
Galvanised Limerick side
The Treaty come into this game with a sense of hunger and determination. Having trailed Tipperary by 10 points in the Munster Hurling final at Pairc Uí Choaimh, Limerick crawled back the deficit to win 2-29 to 3-21.
Goals from Kyle Hayes and Seamus Flannagan inspired Limerick to an almighty comeback. They will be hoping for more of the same this Saturday.
Despite being plagued with injuries at the start of the year, former Kilkenny Hurler Aidan 'Taggy' Fogarty believes the current panel has harmonised to build an even stronger side than last year.
" They've come together this year as a unit and have overcome all the doubts. They got to the All-Ireland final last year and I felt they were lacking that killer instinct within the team," says Fogarty.
"But this year, even after missing some of their best players, they're still coming together and they're still getting results. The inner belief of the whole unit has gelled them together,"
Verdict
Saturday's game could tip either way. Waterford certainly are going in with momentum of some high scoring contests. But this Limerick side has proven to be able to back themselves – and even better their opponents. I will go with Limerick for this one.
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