The counties of Limerick and Tipperary meet in Championship for the second week in a row on Sunday. However, this time football is the code. For the first time in four years, a team that is not Kerry or Cork will compete in the Munster Football Final.
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Limerick overcame Waterford in their Championship opener last weekend by a comfortable 11 points. Early goals from Cillian Fahy and Adrian Enright set them on their way.
Previously, Limerick won Division 4 by defeating Sligo. Manager Billy Lee will be glad to see his team’s league success carry into the Championship. Limerick followed up on their good start against Waterford by managing the game well in the second half, picking off points with no major pressure ever coming on them.
Limerick last reached the Munster final in 2010. Now, they have a great chance to begin the new decade in the same way.
Last season, Tipperary’s Championship was a short one. Firstly, they lost to Limerick in Munster. Next, Down knocked them out in round 1 of the qualifiers.
This year, the absence of a back door means their form has to be better. So far, they have started well by beating Clare.
Last Sunday, they led from start to finish to eliminate the Banner county. Like Limerick, two goals went a long way to their dominance. Conor Sweeney and Brian Fox raised green flags to open an eight-point lead that Clare couldn’t reel in.
In recent seasons, Tipperary have failed to replicate the form that saw them reach the 2016 All-Ireland semi-final. However, nine survivors from the side that lost that game to Mayo started last Sunday. Those players know how to win and they’ll be keen to take advantage of being on the opposite side of the draw to Kerry and Cork.
Paddy Power have backed Tipperary to qualify at 4/11. Otherwise, the Division 4 Champions are 11/4 and a draw is 15/2.
RTÉ News Now are showing the game live.
Prediction: Tipperary. It will be a very close game but Tipp have found form at the right time.
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES
2019: Limerick 3-11 Tipperary 1-10 (Munster quarter-final)
2014: Tipperary 2-14 Limerick 1-11 (Munster quarter-final)
2009: Limerick 1-11 Tipperary 1-9 (Munster quarter-final)
2008: Limerick 1-8 Tipperary 1-5 (Munster quarter-final)
2004: Limerick 0-16 Tipperary 3-5 (Munster quarter-final)
Talking points
(1) Both had impressive wins last weekend – Tipperary, who finished fifth in Division 3, beat Clare, who had finished sixth in Division 2 while Limerick ran out easy winners over Waterford.
(2) Conor Sweeney top-scored on 1-4 (0-2 frees) for Tipperary in their win over Clare.
(3) Hugh Bourke on 0-4 (0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘mark’) and Cillian Fahy (1-1) were Limerick’s top scorers in the win over Waterford.
(4) Tipperary are bidding to reach the Munster final for the first time since 2016 while Limerick’s last ap pearance in the decider was in 2010.
TEAM NEWS
Munster Football Championship Semi-FInal: Limerick vs Tipperary, Saturday, November 7th, 13:15 (Gaelic Grounds).
https://3.249.64.60/gaa/a-combined-15-of-gaelic-footballers-with-only-one-player-per-county/
Billy Lee happy as Limerick maintain winning ways against Waterford https://t.co/1Lgw9f1FDF
— Munster GAA (@MunsterGAA) November 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/MunsterGAA/status/1323309302489190405
https://3.249.64.60/gaa/a-combined-15-of-gaelic-footballers-with-only-one-player-per-county/
