It must be a like the week before the state examinations for Leaving Certificate students in the Tipperary senior hurling camp this week as they get set for their first outing in this year’s championship. Similar to the theatre critic wondering how his play will go down with the audience, Eamon O'Shea will no doubt be weighing up tactics right up until throw in as he looks to shake off an unwanted statistic. The Kilruane McDonaghs clubman who is in his third season as Tipperary manager, has yet to be involved in a win in the Munster championship.
Limerick shook off their poor league form and already have a win behind them, beating Clare by 1-19 to 2-15 in the Munster quarter-final. The shannonsiders have been steady performers in recent seasons and are bidding to reach the Munster final for a third successive year, a feat they last achieved in what was widely regarded as hurling's revolution years in 1994-95-96.
Tipperary last reached the final in 2012, and while players and mentors generally maintain stats and previous results have no relevance, the fact that the Premier have lost to Limerick in each of the last two years down south must be coming into their thinking.
Waterford await in the Munster final on July 12 and the only thing for certain is that it's set to be a sporting rollercoaster of Tayto park proportions at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday. Something else that can be guaranteed is the fact that the players will be doing the real talking on the pitch. There are no pre match remarks from either side that will be pinned up on the opposition dressing room walls on Sunday either if this official preview is anything to go by. We'll have to wait until 4.00pm for the shadow boxing to end!
