Rivalries in sport often throw up classic encounters that are etched in one’s memory. On Sunday, Limerick are going for a hat-trick of wins over Tipperary in the Munster championship.
The last 7 meetings between Limerick and Tipperary - in 70 seconds. #sundaygame https://t.co/iZOisYP7le
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) June 19, 2015Those who witnessed the encounters in 2013 and ’14 saw contests that delighted the purists as the Treaty County came with late surges to land the spoils.
In 2007, the counties met three times in the province. Michael ‘Babs’ Keating and Richie Bennis were the respective managers. It was a trilogy that had so many twists and turns, and, as Martin Breheny described in the Irish Independent: “It was as if they were undergoing the most severe examination of their physical endurance and mental fortitude.”
Limerick showed great character to force a replay in the first two installments and that resolve was again to the fore as they kicked on to win by three points after extra time in the third game.
Go further back in time and again it’s the Shannonsiders who came out best in what were games to savour. At half-time in the 1981 semi-final, Tipp led by 2-10 to 0-03. But, inspired by full-forward Joe McKenna, Limerick stormed back in the second 35. McKenna bagged 3-01, as his side gained parity by the final whistle, to force a replay which they won comfortably.
The 1973 Munster final was a match that see-sawed back and forth for 80 minutes. A rollercoaster ride was decided with the last puck of the game as the aforementioned Richie Bennis fired over a point from a ’70 to give Limerick a 6-07 to 2-18 victory.
Earlier Bennis had opted to go for a goal from a 21-yard free, but missed. The groans that followed that miss were in sharp contrast to the delirium that greeted the final whistle as Limerick won their first Munster title since 1955.
So much then for the past and the great memories, but who will book a date with Waterford in the Munster final on 12 July?
Limerick are already road-tested this summer following their 1-19 to 2-15 win over Clare on 24 May. Tipperary haven’t seen action since their league semi-final defeat to Waterford on 19 April.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Tom Dempsey said that he believes the Premier County have enough to stop their rivals from achieving a notable three-timer.
“Limerick will feel that they have the measure of Tipp and if the game is tight going down the stretch, then they will fancy their chances," he said.
"I think, however, that improvement is needed, maybe 20 or 30 percent from the Clare game if they are going to win."
Tipperary manager Eamon O’Shea has yet to win a Munster championship match and the desire to put that to right should drive his side on.
"That stat is sure to bother Eamon O’Shea," added the 1996 All-Ireland winner with Wexford.
"I know Tipperary have injuries, but I just feel the pendulum is going to swing back their way on Sunday. In fact I fancy them to win Munster this year. The loss of Pauric Mahony for Waterford in the final will be decisive."
Former Offaly star Joe Dooley believes that Limerick will benefit from playing in front of their own supporters and that beating Tipperary again “would be some achievement.”
However, like Tom Dempsey, he feels they will have to up their performance from the last day.
“Limerick weren’t overly impressive in beating Clare and did just enough to win. In that game, they scored 1-19, 0-11 of which came from frees. I don’t think that return would be good enough to win on Sunday. That said, they have a game under their belt and that’s normally worth a couple of points.”
As for Tipperary, Dooley added: “It's a big year for them but then again we tend to say that about Tipperary every year. Last year, they were very close to winning two trophies and are probably sick of being the bridesmaids.
"I think they are going to pull out all the stops this year to win the All-Ireland. They have a lot of talented hurlers and the bench is strong.
"I go for Tipperary to win. If they can avoid conceding silly frees, then they can scrape through.”
Former Clare manager and selector Tony Considine claims Tipperary must “man up” if they are to prevail.
“Recent meetings have shown that there is very little between the two sides, but Limerick’s greater desire has got them over the line," he said. "If anything, Sunday’s game is a bigger game for Tipperary and Eamon O’Shea. They have the better players and really should have won the All-Ireland last year.
"Limerick, I think, will improve from the last day. Cian Lynch had a great debut. He’s a real talent and it may take a moment of genius from either team to decide the outcome. That said, I’ll go with Tipp to lay their Limerick bogey."
Stats: Limerick v Tipperary
The teams have met 66 times in the championship (64 in Munster, once in the All-Ireland semi-final (2009) and once in the All-Ireland qualifiers (2004) with the results standing as follows:
Tipperary 33 wins
Limerick 23 wins
Draws 10.
Last Five Championship Clashes
2014: Limerick 2-18 Tipperary 2-16 (Munster semi-final)
2013: Limerick 1-18 Tipperary 1-15 (Munster semi-final)
2012: Tipperary 2-20 Limerick 1-19 (Munster quarter-final)
2009: Tipperary 6-19 Limerick 2-7 (All-Ireland semi-final)
2007: Limerick 0-22 Tipperary 2-13 (Munster semi-final AET)
This will be the 14th championship clash between the counties since the millennium with Tipperary having won seven times (2012-2009-2006-2005- 2004-2002-2001), Limerick three times (2014-2013-2007) while there were three draws (twice in 2007 and once in 2005) in the previous 13 games.
