Dónal Óg Cusack believes Limerick are still the team to beat going into the business end of the season and will have time to iron out any issues, but he feels "a couple of question marks" did emerge from the manner of their Allianz Hurling League semi-final defeat to Kilkenny on Saturday.
John Kiely's reigning All-Ireland champions lost 3-17 to 1-15 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and the manager did not pull any punches in outlining his disappointment at the performance, telling RTÉ Sport that "in the eight years now we are on the road it would be in the top two or three poorest performances of our time", while adding that the display was at a "shockingly low level".
Assessing the performance on RTÉ's Allianz League Sunday, Cusack pinpointed a few small areas of concern from the game.
"Limerick showed a surprising uncertainty and a surprising vulnerability in defence," he said, highlighting that a couple of key defensive lynchpins, captain Declan Hannon and Seán Finn, are still in the midst of working their way back to form after injury lay-offs.
"I counted it last night. I think Kilkenny had seven legitimate goal chances and it was really surprising.
"There were very few positives. Cathal O'Neill was outstanding. Peter Casey was good but ruined it by that sending off - and he deserved to get sent off.
"I think Kilkenny will realise that there was a certain phoney war attached to it but it was definitely better for (Derek) Lyng that they didn't ship a beating like they've done over the last times.
"And even though Limerick are going for six-in-a-row in Munster, they're going for five All-Irelands, they're still not above analysis.
"Whilst there's no doubt they're the best team still there and the team to beat, there's a couple of question marks after yesterday."
But that being said, Cusack suggested that the timing of the defeat could prove beneficial in stinging Limerick back to their best over the coming weeks and months, with their Munster Championship opener against in-form neighbours Clare to come on 21 April in Ennis.
"Loads of time," he said of the span Kiely and his set-up have to iron out any creases.
"If that was a Munster Championship game yesterday, you wouldn't have seen (Aaron) Gillane taken off, you wouldn't have seen (Gearoid) Hegarty taken off, you wouldn't have seen them all taken off.
"I think in a way, it's perfect now for John Kiely for the next couple of weeks."
