Waterford goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe has dismissed any notions that his team-mates will be holding anything back ahead of the Championship when they take on Limerick in the Allianz Hurling League semi-final this weekend.
Derek McGrath’s side take on their Munster rivals Limerick in the first of a double-header at Semple Stadium (2pm), with Clare and Kilkenny (4pm) to do battle afterwards for the right to reach the league decider.
The reigning league champions defeated Wexford by the bare minimum last time out to reach the last four, but in light of the one-sided semi-finals in the football last weekend, the extent to which teams are taking the competition has again been called into question.
Kerry and Dublin enjoyed all-too-easy wins over Roscommon and Donegal respectively and the National League has been accused by some critics as mainly an opportunity to try out fresh faces, with managers keen not to show their full hand before championship.
O’Keeffe is adamant however that Waterford, who take on Clare on 5 June in the Munster Championship, are giving their all to retain the title they won from 1B last season.
“We’re not going out shadow-boxing in any game. We’re going out every game 100 per cent trying to win it, that’s the demand that has been set for us,” he told RTÉ Sport.
“We’re not a team that are trying to time our run or anything for later in the League, we’re going out every game full-blooded for the win.”
Limerick will be the next test for McGrath’s charges and after ending Dublin’s impressive home record at Parnell Park in the quarter-finals, O’Keeffe is expecting a big challenge from the Treaty men.
“They [Limerick] are a fantastic side, they have the Na Piarsaigh boys back and it was evident how much they strengthened their side against Dublin in Parnell Park.
“That’s what you want in the League, you want to be playing teams with their best 15 out.”
Despite struggling to raise green flags during the group stages – Waterford scored just one goal in five games – the best defensive record in the division helped them to second place and the Ballygunner net-minder admits that the opening day win away to Kilkenny got their campaign off to the perfect start.
“Overall it was a positive league, but the goal was to avoid relegation like many teams,” he said.
“We got off to a good start. It was a big deal to a lot of lads getting a win down in Welsh Park the first round. That gave lads a huge lift. Thankfully we carried that on.”
Watch highlights of both semi-finals on Allianz League Sunday on RTÉ2 at 7.30pm.
