Limerick crowded house a huge factor this time

Tipperary versus Limerick was hard to call on the two previous occasions, but now it's virtually impossible.

For Tipperary, it is going to be their biggest test to date, as they have created a monster in allowing Limerick back into the game last Saturday. Limerick fans are crossing the border in search of tickets, as the supply line at home has dried up.

A Limerick crowd is a huge factor, no matter what the sport. The queues going down the street from the Gaelic Grounds, despite the rain, this week confirm their enthusiasm has reached fever pitch.

It's great for hurling, but bad news for Tipperary. Limerick folk have really taken this team to their hearts.

Particularly near the end of last Saturday's game in Thurles, the crowd drove Limerick to draw on energy reserves Tipperary did not possess, and it very nearly swept the visitors into the Munster final.

In both matches, Limerick have raised their game in the face of adversity and the crowd have been whipped into a frenzy by a brave revival. It's virtually impossible to beat them back when they reach such intensity, mixed with determination.

However, during the period before they lost Damien Reale in the first game and for a major part of the second game they can also look ordinary and struggle for scores.

During their best periods, Brian Geary, Mark Foley, Séamus Hickey and particularly Ollie Moran have been outstanding. Moran has been the player of the series - a title most assumed Eoin Kelly would attain (although Eoin can still change this).

The momentum is now firmly behind Limerick. Tipp have landed a barrage of punches on Limerick's proverbial chin but have failed to knock them out. They've put them on the canvass, but Limerick keep beating the count.

A recent history lesson should have been caution enough. Tipperary were 1-12 to 0-4 ahead in the 1996 Munster final. The match ended in a draw and Limerick won the replay. And, in the league final of 1992, Tipp were miles ahead until Limerick got on a roll.

In fairness to Richie Bennis, Bernie Hartigan and Gary Kirby, they are a part of this tradition so they know how to use it as motivation.

It's vital for their chances that Tipperary find some way of minimising the impact of the huge Limerick support and eke out a few scores during any period of home dominance to stave off the avalanche that has hit them in the two games to date. A timely goal - and Séamus Butler and Darragh Egan both had chances the last day - would quell such a revival entirely.

Limerick's main advantage over the previous outings has been the consistent spine and structure of their team - from Stephen Lucey at full back and Geary at centre back, right through midfield to Moran in the forwards.

In contrast, Tipperary have lacked any consistency in personnel and therefore any tried and tested formula to fall back on when times got tough.

At the end of last weekend's game, Tipperary's team had changed utterly from what started in Limerick the first day - Declan Fanning being the only centrally positioned player not to be shifted.

Babs appears, however, to have now settled on a consistent starting XV. The early team release this week, with virtually the same line-up - besides Benny Dunne moving to wing forward - will lift the players' confidence.

The only pity is Micheál Webster is injured, because Danny O'Hanlon's form wasn't good enough to warrant inclusion from the start.

A greater physical presence is still required at some stage tomorrow to take the pressure off Kelly in the full forward line. That said, Séamus Butler and Lar Corbett more than earned their stripes in the Semple battle. They were consistently out in front of their men and scored freely.

The real test for Tipperary will come if Limerick can get three or four points in front (something they are yet to achieve). This will happen if they clean up their poor shooting return when the pressure is minimal. There is no way they can start as poorly as last Saturday.

It may seem like I'm edging towards Limerick but hang on. Pound for pound, Tipperary are a more skilful outfit. They garner scores far more easily - it sometimes takes Limerick an extra touch to get their shots away.

Tipp also created more goal chances and really should have been out the gate by half-time. But logical analysis has been thrown out the window in the last quarters of the previous games. A frenzied Limerick, with their supporters virtually an extra man, have twice looked capable of collaring, and then surpassing, Tipperary. On the premise that Tipp can play well for longer they could have enough to stave off a late Limerick rally. Avoiding another madcap finale is the key.

Nobody can claim to be an expert when it comes to predicting how this will pan out. It's almost impossible to call. At half-time last Saturday night, I couldn't see Limerick recovering, but the team and supporters refused to forsake all hope.

Tipperary must exude a greater unity of purpose to ruthlessly kill off such hope. They have the greater ability to get scores and that might just be enough to get them through.

Regardless, the winner will be foaming at the mouth to have a crack at Waterford.

Finally, it was heartening to see Offaly and Dublin buck the modern trend by progressing to the under-21 Leinster final. It now means one of the two, or Antrim, will contest this year's All-Ireland final.