It's Groundhog Day in hurling.
No, we don’t mean Bill Murray is back supporting Limerick again, though he might be. And it’s not a new celebration of those players adept at winning ruck ball.
This weekend, for just the second time and first since 2016, we have a repeat pairing in the All-Ireland semi-finals.
That year, Kilkenny repeated their win over Waterford while Tipperary turned the tables on Galway and went on to lift Liam MacCarthy.
Today, champions Limerick again face Galway while tomorrow Clare and Kilkenny renew acquaintance.
So how do the fortunes of the four teams left standing compare to last year?
LIMERICK
What has changed?
The aura of invincibility has faded a little. The long unbeaten run, stretching back 16 games to the 2019 All-Ireland semi-final, was ended by Clare in the Munster round-robin. There was also a draw with what proved to be very much a work-in-progress Tipperary and the flirtation with a provincial-stage exit.
Key defenders are missing: For the first time since John Kiely took over the team for the 2017, neither Sean Finn nor Declan Hannon will be present. How will Limerick cope without the best corner-back in the country and their captain?
What’s the same?
Limerick still won the Munster title. For a record-equalling fifth year in a row in fact. Even more importantly, they reversed the one-point defeat to Clare, keeping their grip on a trophy their neighbours have been waiting 26 years to regain.
They have been able to win without key players before. Last year, Cian Lynch and Peter Casey were only fit enough to come on as subs and the double Hurler of the Year then missed the final with a fresh injury. But Limerick still had enough to retain their crown. Even a rodent in a hole knows they are justified favourites to win four-in-a-row.
GALWAY
What has changed?
The Tribesmen finally seem to be getting best out of Conor Whelan, who for too long has seemed starved of supply for a player of his talent. The Kinvara man has scored 7-15 in the six championship games to date, including a first-half hat-trick against Westmeath, and should have had another against Tipperary but for a fine save by Rhys Shelley. His fielding has been immense and he superbly made a goal for Jason Flynn (injured today) in the Leinster final.
GOAL GALWAY - The Tribesmen needed a goal and substitute Jason Flynn has duly delivered after clever work by Conor Whelan
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 11, 2023
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Johnny Coen retired and the loss of David Burke, 2017 All-Ireland winning captain, to injury was a significant blow but veteran Joseph Cooney and then Seán Linnane thrived at midfield, the latter starting two championship games in a row for the first time today, aged 27.
In his second year, Henry Shefflin has given some younger players greater responsibility too: Cianan Fahy, Evan Niland and Kevin Cooney all came off the bench in this game last season, today they start.
What’s the same?
They lost another Leinster final to Kilkenny, this one probably the most sickening of them all. Two points ahead in injury-time after a valiant fightback, Padraic Mannion lost his hurl and sent an unfortunate kicked clearance straight to Cillian Buckley, who dashed hopes of a first provincial crown since 2018.
Last year, Galway got to this stage courtesy of a one-point win over Munster’s third-place finishers, Cork. This time it was by two against Tipperary but the Tribesmen really should have been out of sight against a lethargic-looking Premier outfit.
They remain an inconsistent team. Dublin and Kilkenny were given leads of 12 and eight points respectively before being reeled in. They'll need to excel in both halves to narrow the three-point gap to Limerick that was the result last year.
KILKENNY
What has changed?
The manager: He won six All-Ireland SHC titles as a player and two as a selector but Derek Lyng has taken on one of the hardest gigs in hurling, following the departure of the great Brian Cody. So far so good.
A few new faces: Billy Drennan lit up the league but has been reduced to brief championship cameos due to injury. Though he is on the bench again today. Padraig Walsh and Walter Walsh have been in and out of the starting XV as Tom Phelan and John Donnelly have found favour upfront. David Blanchfield has nailed down a wing-back spot in the absence of Mikey Carey.
What’s the same?
Kilkenny are Leinster champions again, for a fourth year in a row, though only thanks to Buckley’s last-gasp goal.
The Cats still have the sharpest claws in front of goal. Their tally of 14 in six games (2.33 per) matches Galway but they outscored their Leinster final opponents 4-2 in that department. Martin Keoghan (5-09) and Eoin Cody (3-16) lead the way.
TJ Reid is still going strong as he approaches 35 and 3/4 years on the planet. The Ballyhale maestro has scored 2-54 so far this campaign, 2-12 of it from play, and is five points away from reclaiming the mantle of all-time championship scorer from Patrick Horgan. He will become the record all-time appearance holder on 81 today, one ahead of Westmeath's Derek McNicholas.
CLARE
What has changed?
The Banner finally showed that they, or anybody, could beat Limerick in championship. That one-point win in the Gaelic Grounds at the end of April proves that the champions can be stopped, even if Galway don't do so today.
Tony Kelly (5-32) may still lead their scoring charts but three of the goals came against Dublin and it feels like Brian Lohan's team are less reliant on the Ballyea man this term. Aidan McCarthy (injured today) and Mark Rodgers have shared the free-scoring burden while the latter has also scored four goals and David Fitzgerald has hit 0-11 from midfield. Even if Mikey Butler again nullifies Kelly, those players and the likes of Shane O'Donnell and Ian Galvin should be able to better compensate.
The quarter-final win over Dublin was much more impressive than when stumbling over the line against Wexford last year. Clare should be coming in fresher and more confident than this time last year.
What's the same?
The wait for a first Munster title since 1997 goes on. Though this year's defeat to Limerick doesn’t appear to have drained Clare quite as much. There was no extra-time for a start and the loss was more self-inflicted, with some very poor wides on the day.
Defensive injuries: Last year, centre-back John Conlon was forced out on the day with a back injury. His late replacement Páidí Fitzpatrick endure a first appearance of the season to forget as Kilkenny ran riot.
Conlon is believed to be fit to start tomorrow after sustaining a head injury against Dublin, as is David McInerney. But whether captain and full-back Conor Cleary truly has recovered from the shoulder problem that kept him out of the last two games could be pivotal against a team renowned for their aerial prowess.
Watch the All-Ireland Hurling Championship semi-finals, Limerick v Galway (Saturday at 6pm) and Clare v Kilkenny (Sunday at 4pm) this weekend on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport or listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch highlights on The Sunday Game, RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, 9.30pm
