Waterford played into Limerick's hands by focusing on the opposition rather than on their own strengths.
There was a moment just before the hour mark in yesterday’s game when Waterford may have felt the door was slightly ajar.Having seen their half-time whittled down to just two points, it may have appeared to the neutral eye that Waterford were in with a chance. But then Limerick found a way.What started as a crusade in 2018 has turned into a dynasty. Five All-Irelands in six years, five straight Munster titles plus three Leagues, marks them out as one of the greatest teams there has ever been.
And teams look at ways to beat you rather than to focus on yourselves. The best team Limerick have played in recent years has been Clare who concentrated solely on getting their own game right rather than overly worrying about stopping us.When there were two points in it, the person sitting next to me said, ‘this is going to be tight’.By half time, Limerick had 28 shots, Waterford 11. Had Limerick converted half of their 14 first-half wides, the gap at the break would have been 12 points.
It was really telling to see Waterford play to a system, to attempt to play it around the middle with a series of short passes. In doing so, they conceded turnover after turnover by attempting huge, risky passes.Perhaps we did not need to see a complete Pearl Harbour job from them, whereby they went launching missile after missile, but by not varying their approach significantly, Waterford ended up being authors of their own downfall.
If Limerick had beaten Cork, if the draw with Tipp had instead been a Waterford win, if the umpire had have awarded the controversial 65 against Clare in their favour, they would still be alive in 2024.Then there is Leinster. What Dublin did yesterday in Salthill was not just win a game of hurling, it was to make a statement.
Waterford GAA Henry Shefflin Dublin GAA All-Ireland Hurling Championship Munster Senior Hurling Championship
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