Sean Finn says Limerick are determined to avoid another slow start in Saturday's All-Ireland semi-final but insists that the reigning champions won't be overly concerned even if Waterford pull clear early on.
The Treaty had to recover from a 10-point half-time deficit against Tipperary in the Munster final and their only knock-out championship defeat in the last four seasons came in the 2019 semi when Kilkenny were allowed to build a big early lead.
This weekend's opponents Waterford also matched them for most of the first half in last year's decider.
"Our first half performance wasn't that bad but it (the scoreboard) did look quite poor in the Munster final," corner-back Finn told RTÉ Sport.
"It’s something to consider, no doubt, the All-Ireland final last year and the All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny in 2019.
"They're a lesson. We have addressed it and we have done well since. I don't think that semi-final of two years ago is something we talk about or consider. We have had a lot of good performances since then and I don’t think that will be of concern going into the next game.
"Of course, teams when they’re playing us, there’s going to be a level of adrenaline and they’re going to be up for it. You’re going to see a big push in the first 15-20 minutes but as the game progresses that can often deteriorate, that adrenaline rush and that emotion.
"We just focus on ourselves, we know 70 minutes is a long time and if we play well over 70 minutes we'll be in a good position.
"It's just important now that we bring that second-half performance (against Tipp) and don’t allow teams to pick up a six-point lead or 10-point lead on us when we have to come back and draw on that extraordinary performance again. We want to bring it to 70 minutes or 60 minutes if possible and deliver over a full game rather than 25 minutes.
"We have shown some really good patches of play but we are still allowing teams to compete with us and put us in situations where we would rather not be."
Back-to-back All-Irelands for the first time and a third title in four years would make this Limerick side the county's most successful in history but the three-time All-Star says talk of them being a team for the ages is not something the players pay much attention to.
"Of course that's going to be there. It's external noise but it’s very easy that creeps into the camp. It’s just important that we acknowledge it is external, and block it out.
"It doesn't really creep into our thoughts at all. The narrative could be different if we don’t get through a semi-final.
"We can tip back in a couple of years time and enjoy and say, 'Gee, wasn't that incredible?’ But at the moment we don’t really. It's not (even) a semi-final, it's the next game. We don’t mention what game it is or what opposition we’re playing, it’s game four.
"It’s a great time for Limerick hurling. It’s fantastic for the supporters, they have been waiting a long, long time for success and they have got it over the last couple of years. Hopefully we’ll get more over the next couple of years."
There will be 24,000 fans in attendance at Croke Park for both semi-finals this weekend - the biggest crowds at a hurling match since the 2019 final.
That brings back familiar challenges after a year of sideline shouts ringing out around empty stadiums.
"It's absolutely fantastic to have them back. The buzz in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, there was 7,000 there but it felt as if there could have been 20,000 there when one or two of the goals went in.
"Definitely, the communication thing is an obstacle when you're shouting out to a wing-back or the goalie shouting out to you as a full-back to come out into position. That's difficult, and that has always been difficult when there has been crowds in Croke Park.
"The absence of our maor foirne is difficult too, when management can't get messages in.
"But all in all, the crowds being back has been such a bonus, for players especially. The buzz and the volume in a stadium in the middle of the summer is what you want."
Follow the All-Ireland senior hurling championship semi-finals this weekend with our live blogs on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
Watch Limerick v Waterford live on RTÉ2 or RTÉ Player from 4pm Saturday, and Kilkenny v Cork live on RTÉ2 or RTÉ Player from 2.30pm Sunday.
Watch highlights of all the weekend's action on The Sunday Game at 9.30pm on RTÉ2.
Listen to live and exclusive national radio commentaries on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday and Sunday Sport.
