The stakes are high for Tipperary hurlers in crunch game against Limerick

Above: The Tipperary contingent of Darragh McCarthy, Conor Martin, Aaron Morgan, Oisín O’Donoghue, Jamie Ormonde and Max Hackett celebrate after UL beat Mary I in the Fitzgibbon Cup final at Croke Park. Picture: Diarmuid Brennan/Sportsfocus 

The halfway mark in the league offers some perspective on the lie of the hurling landscape at this early juncture in the season. Cork are the pacesetters with an unblemished three-out-of-three record. Already they look well placed to defend their title, just as Offaly look set for relegation. Otherwise, there’s lots to be decided with some crunch games ahead.

That crunch begins with Limerick’s arrival at Semple Stadium this Saturday. We lost narrowly to them last year at the Gaelic Grounds in what was our only defeat in the group stages. A repeat result this time would really pile on the pressure for our visit to Waterford a fortnight later. The stakes then are high.

Limerick come to Thurles as favourites, which has been a familiar role for them under John Kiely. The Limerick boss is in his tenth season in charge and during that time he’s built an impressive record against Tipperary. Through league and championship, he’s lost just two games out of 16. One of those defeats was the 2018 league semi-final, which was our last league victory over the Shannonsiders.

It stands as our only significant victory over John Kiely during Limerick’s greatest-ever era. We did beat them in the 2019 Munster round robin but that game was meaningless, with the sides destined for a provincial final rematch a few weeks later. That Munster final brought a different story, with Limerick handing out an emphatic twelve-point lesson to the Premier County side. Of course, subsequent events completely overshadowed that result; Munster titles don’t matter so much nowadays.

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Limerick, however, have been the standard-setters for close to a decade now. You measure yourself against them, which is why Liam Cahill and company will put considerable store in this clash. Kiely’s clan did stumble badly in their opening round against Waterford but got back to more familiar form for round two where they had too much for Kilkenny. They won’t wish to see Tipperary rattle that regained rhythm.

It’s seen as a pivotal year for Limerick and that great side that took five All-Irelands from six seasons. Two years on now from the failed five-in-a-row bid, this could be viewed as something of a final fling for some players. Declan Hannon and Seamus Flanagan have already slipped away but Caroline Currid is back in her role as psychologist and Peter Casey seems in fine form for the first time since that horrific ankle injury in 2024. They await the return of others like Kyle Hayes. With a decent cohort of upcoming talent to supplement the more established men, nobody doubts that they’ll be a formidable force this season.

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For Tipperary, this year already has that follow-up feel to it. Winning a league title is not an absolute imperative but getting back to the pitch of things is. In that regard the Cork game showed more negatives than positives. On mature reflection - as the politician said - it’s amazing how we went into injury time just three points adrift, despite a subdued forward line that scored a single point from second half play.

As ever, the Tipperary selection will be eagerly-awaited. Getting the injured players back in action is a priority because events move rapidly through the second half of the league series and on to the championship launch on April 19. The programme of games is intense, the schedule tight. Blink and it’s over.

At least the distraction of the Fitzgibbon Cup is now put aside following UL’s impressive win over Mary I in last Friday’s final. The game itself was more of an exhibition than a hard-fought tussle. 59 scores over the hour gives a flavour of the type of free-flow on view. It was flashy, flamboyant fare from highly-skilled players revelling in the space and freedom of Croke Park. It bears little relation to what we’ll see in the league at the weekend.

From Tipperary’s perspective it was good to see the likes of Darragh McCarthy, Oisín O’Donoghue, Aaron Morgan and Conor Martin collect Fitzgibbon Cup medals. Some of these lads have won more by the time they’re 20 than others achieve in a lifetime.

On the other hand, it was commiserations for players like Joe Caesar (impressive display), Adam Daly, Eoin Craddock, Cathal Quinn and Ben Currivan who were on the losing side. The Fitzgibbon does act as a showcase for emerging talent, though sometimes it can create false impressions.

Anyway, Tipperary need to bring serious intent to the Limerick game on Saturday. It was okay to be somewhat blasé about the Cork defeat, given all the circumstances, but another reversal would be more problematic. Historically, the league contests between Limerick and Tipperary have been tight. We’ve met on 67 previous occasions, with Tipperary ahead on 35 wins against Limerick’s 24; there have been eight draws.

Elsewhere in the league, Cork have a break this weekend, which might be an opportunity for some reflection on Leeside on their approach under the new manager. They seem like a county that’s angry but not quite sure who to be angry with. The result is that you get this type of scatter-gun rant from their manager, which targets everyone. It’s unfitting for a county of Cork’s tradition.

In other games Galway face a must-win assignment away to Offaly. The Tribesmen were, arguably, much closer to Cork then we were and with several young players showing form they should collect the points on Sunday.

The final game in the group sees Waterford travel to Nowlan Park. The ‘Cats’ have made a shaky start to the league, barely coping with Offaly and well short against Limerick. By contrast Waterford took a major scalp in defeating Limerick in what was the upset of the group thus far. In the, sometimes up-and-down nature of league results, that Nowlan Park fixture has the potential to go either way.

Meanwhile, the GAA prepares for its Annual Congress at Croke Park on February 27/28 where a new president will be elected and some interesting motions proposed. Tipperary has an interest in the presidential ballot, with Ger Ryan carrying our hopes and best wishes.

On the motions front a Central Council proposal, if approved, will see the All-Ireland hurling final move to the last Sunday in July, with the football decider two weeks later in August. If passed it will mean a further shrinking of the club season. It might seem a modest adjustment but the club season is already under pressure to complete its fixture programme. The overwhelming majority of players favour the split season as it exists so why nibble away at the club part of the calendar? The motion deserves to be defeated but probably won’t.

Also, before Congress will be a Hurling Development Committee proposal to introduce a 30-metre free advance for dissent in hurling matches, as well as a 20-metre free for dissent or misconduct by team officials. Hurling has a lot of priority issues that need tackling, beginning with the handpass, and this borrowing from football is the best the HDC can come up with. They must be the most hopeless committee in Croke Park.

Finally, a reminder that Saturday night’s entertainment doesn’t end with the final whistle in Semple Stadium. Immediately after the game the show moves across the road to Thurles Greyhound Stadium for the Supporters’ Club annual Night at the Dogs. The €20 admission includes a free race card, as well as a free raffle and autograph-signing by some of our 2025 All-Ireland heroes. There will also be an auction for a young greyhound pup, as well as a framed and signed official 2025 All-Ireland jersey.

The traps go up on the first of ten races at 7.30. It’s a great opportunity to back the team for 2026.