Munster Senior Football Championship semi-final: Tipperary v Limerick (tonight, Semple Stadium, Thurles, 7pm)
LIMERICK raised a few eyebrows with their dramatic win in Ennis a fortnight ago and a win in Thurles to secure a first Munster final appearance since 2010 might raise a few more.
Billy Lee’s men had finished level with Clare on 2-16 to 1-19 after extra-time at Cusack Park, and it was the Treaty who kept their composure, converting all four of their penalties in the resulting shootout via Iain Corbett, Robbie Bourke, Brian Donovan and James Naughton to secure a first Championship victory over the Banner since 2009.
Limerick’s progression to a Munster semi-final followed up on spring in which they had secured Division Two football for 2023 thanks to promotion in the National League, losing the Division Three final to Louth. There are real signs of progress for the Treaty footballers then, and Tipperary manager David Power knows how tough it will be for his players at Semple Stadium tonight.
When Tipperary famously won the Munster football title for the first time in 85 years back in 2020, it was Limerick they beat after extra-time in a dramatic semi-final encounter at the Gaelic Grounds, and Power thinks those memories may well be a factor tonight.
“I’m sure they are thinking of last November 2020 that we kind of robbed them, so that’s going to be a great game,” the Kilsheelan man said.
“It’s in Thurles and hopefully now we can get a big Tipp crowd at it. For us, if we get promoted and get to a Munster final and back into a Sam Maguire, we would be after hitting a lot of our targets and I think that’s huge.”
Tipperary secured their own National League promotion in the spring, from Division Four, and those exploits will give them confidence heading into tonight. A fortnight ago, they opened their Munster campaign with a comfortable victory over Waterford at Fraher Field.
If the likes of captain Conor Sweeney can put on a performance again tonight, Tipp stand more than a fighting chance. Lose though, and it’s the Tailteann Cup for the Premier county, while Limerick would get a second bite at the Championship cherry by virtue of their Division Two status.
