OPINION: It would be monumental to win this semi-final - Shane Dowling

IT'S such a sense of déjà vu all over again again. Kilkenny v Clare and Limerick v Galway. The exact same All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final pairing as 2022.

All-Ireland semi-final weekend has turned out to be a great weekend in the big smoke. If you want to make a weekend out of it it’s a great few days.

Last year, Limerick were playing in the semi-final on the Sunday. Tip away up to Dublin on the Saturday, go to the first semi-final, and out in Dublin that night. Plenty of GAA folk around the place and generally a great buzz.

Wake up on the Sunday morning full of excitement around for the second game. This year though Limerick are up first. It won't change my plans though.

I'll make a night out of it anyway, but rather then watching the other semi-final ill be back down the road to walk up and watch Dermot Kennedy at Thomond Park. Dermot will be a bit quieter on the Saturday night, I'd say. I see some people are trying to sell or swap tickets because of the clash with the hurling game.

No matter which way you look at it, be it in Limerick or Dublin this weekend there is loads to look forward to. I have to say it’s a real pity though when you look at some of the prices hotels are looking for in Dublin and also the cost of living.

It's not like it was before and that makes overnight stays a hell of a lot harder. I do know there are loads of people who earmark this weekend as a weekend away months in advance, I'm one of them. And let's hope the hurling lives up to expectations.

I often speak of the narrative, and the narrative being driven by media. In last year's semi-final, if Limerick were to lose, it would have really been an upset for the books, a shock.

If Limerick did get turned over this Saturday, would it be the greatest shock in the world? Not for me anyway. They had to beat Cork in a do-or-die Munster round robin game earlier in the summer, basically the same with Tipp, Clare in the TUS Gaelic Grounds in the Munster final, and now galway.

For the last number of games, they had to go to the well. And dig out games, and dig them out they did. But I think Galway are coming in in a much better place this year.

I felt in last year's All-Ireland quarter final, they scraped over the line against Cork, should have been beaten actually. I thought they were very solid against Tipp, controlled, steely, and had everything in order.

They are no doubt very hungry after the loss of the Leinster final, and Henry Shefflin will have them well wound up. And on top of it all, Limerick have to find a number 6, and trust that whoever goes in there will do the job that’s needed.

But whoever that person is won't have experience, or at least, won't have experience in a game like this. You can do all the video work in the world, you can play there a few years ago, but this is a specialised position.

So it’s a big call and then you just hope it works out. If I was to throw a guess at it, I would think possible Barry Nash there with Richie English to the corner.

On top of Declan Hannon being out, you also have Sean Finn missing and he always has done a great job on Conor Whelan.
So what's the difference between this year's game and last year's? Limerick are missing Declan Hannon and Sean Finn. Galway have had a better campaign this year than last year. They are year two under manager Henry. They have had an easier time of it than Limerick.

So don’t believe the narrative, or the bookies’, and forget what's in the past ahead of this game. To get a win on Saturday, for me, would be monumental. That’s not playing it down. It's not being fake. For me, it's reality.

When all that is said and done, I have said all year if Limerick get to Croke Park, they won't be beaten. And I remain with that same thinking.

But I will admit I'm not as confident saying that as I was over the last number of weeks. They're humans, and not machines.
I know nearly every year they have had to deal with an injury or two, but is this an injury or two too many? I sincerely hope not.

Aaron Gillane has been the man up top this year - and he destroyed Clare in the Munster final. In last year’s semi-final, he scored 6 points from play. I can't see Limerick complicating matters ahead of this weekend, and while Shefflin will no doubt have a plan to curb his influence, it's another thing to carry it out.

Curb him though and we need somebody else to stand up. Either way, it will make for fascinating watching, if nerve racking at the same time. I think we will do it. Just.