Limerick ready to take down Cats

Limerick v Kilkenny
Semple Stadium, 2pm Sunday

Kilkenny head to Thurles for a second successive Sunday, and their third game in as many weeks, to meet a Limerick side who may be ready to take a big scalp.

Brian Cody’s Kilkenny side have had two huge battles against Galway and they have taken their toll with the loss of Walter Walsh for this clash. Colin Fennelly takes his place at full-forward.

Kilkenny looked finished when they trailed by 12 points approaching half-time but a dubious goal by Ger Aylward before the break and a mammoth fightback early in the second half showed brought them within a point of the All-Ireland champions.

Galway fended off the Kilkenny challenge and that will have been a huge blow to Cody’s men. Kilkenny were underdogs for both encounters and the effort they put in may come back to haunt them against a Limerick side fresh from a break and an ideal preparation against Carlow last Saturday.

Since their disappointing Munster Championship exit to Clare, Limerick have had a chance to take a break and regroup, and they looked in top form when hitting Carlow for 5-22 last Saturday. While this is a completely different level, that run-out will have primed John Kiely’s men for this game.

Kilkenny were three-point winners when these sides met 12 months ago at Nowlan Park but this is a different Limerick side and this is the perfect opportunity for them to take down Kilkenny.

Sean Finn and sharpshooter Aaron Gillane return to the starting 15 but the strength of the Limerick bench shows their quality. Shane Dowling, David Dempsey and the hugely exciting Peter Casey were all part of the Na Piarsaigh team who reached an All-Ireland club final this year and they can make a big impact when they get their chance. Casey hit 1-3 when he was introduced against Carlow.

Limerick will know that if they nullify the threat of TJ Reid it will go a long way towards winning the game, and they shouldn’t have to change their tactics to do it. Limerick frequently drop their midfield and half-forwards line deep to help their defence and leave space for the full-forward line, and this will reduce the space available to Reid.

Limerick have been billed as a young, exciting team who will be contenders in years to come but this could be the perfect opportunity for them to claim an early scalp. If they can curtail Reid and use the ball intelligently going forward, they could book their place in the All- Ireland semi-final.

Recommendations
Limerick
3pts Evens BoyleSports
Under 24.5 Kilkenny points
2pts Evens BoyleSports

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