OPINION: Puckout battle will be crucial in deciding Sunday's final - Shane Dowling

AND just like that - the biggest day in the year of the hurling calendar is upon us. And yet again, Limerick are front and centre.
I was talking to a buddy of mine whose child is 9 years of age and stone mad about hurling.

He was telling me he dreads the day that Limerick lose because his son thinks it’s just a matter of turning up and winning because that’s all he knows.

It’s gas what the kids of this era will get used to compared to all kids of every other era. Being front and centre and red hot favourites on All-Ireland final day is a privilege, let’s be honest. It’s where you want to be.

But I do keep going back to the previous years - we can never forget that - and it’s the fear of that which should keep everybody motivated and driven to ensure that, even if we don’t keep winning, we keep competing at a very high level where we are not far away.

I was at the 2010 All-Ireland hurling final against where Tipp famously stopped Kilkenny's ‘drive for five’. It was some buzz looking in.

I left Croke Park wondering would I ever get to do that - would Limerick ever get to be in that position?

It’s amazing how quick everything has turned around. The Limerick car is firmly driving forward and we all now have to keep the accelerator hard to the floor!

For decades many people needed road maps to find Croke Park. Now the people of Limerick could update Google maps themselves and probably show it the quickest way to Jones’ Road!

But Croke Park is where it’s at again Sunday against the ‘biggest dogs’ of them all. And that’s what Kilkenny are, raw, savage dogs that would take the shirt off your back to get over the line. But what a respectful county.

I had a discussion with someone the other day and we were saying if you weren’t from Limerick you would want to be from Kilkenny! Just genuine people who get on with it! But the beauty of ‘the Cats’ is whatever they get, they will take and meet head on! And by God will we have to give it early doors on Sunday!

We can’t afford a slow start again this week or these boys will punish. But I don’t think that will happen. The thoughts of that 2019 semi-final defeat to Kilkenny will be in the heads of many, and while it will obviously have zero impact on Sunday, it will sharpen the minds as to what could potentially happen if your eye is even slightly off the ball.

So what about the game and how it will play out?

I actually think Kilkenny backs are quite good. Huw Lawlor is as tough as old boots and he will relish trying to quieten Aaron Gillane. Mikey Butler will, no doubt, follow Peter Casey, while Tommy Walsh will pick up Seamus Flanagan.

Further out the field, you’d suspect that David Blanchfield will follow Gearóid Hegarty, it will be Paddy Deegan to pick up Tom Morrissey and Richie Reid to sit. They are all very good hurlers with plenty of experience at this stage.

We all know at the other end what they have, but I can’t see Limerick pin pointing anybody in particular to pick up anyone. They will play their usual game. The big one for me on Sunday though is puckouts.

More than likely there will be the bones of 80 puckouts in the game. And this is where I think Limerick could destroy them and by doing that it will be their launchpad.

Win 50 of the 80 puckouts, that’s 50 launchpads, leaving Kilkenny with 30. Of course what will be turned over in those possessions is another story.

But I think what will happen for the Kilkenny puckout is you will see the full forward line come way back, the half forward line come way back.

If the ‘keeper goes long, half forwards will be there for the break. But if he goes short, the forwards will employ massive pressure to players who are not used to playing the ball around and force a turnover!

At the other end of the pitch Limerick set up brilliantly. They hammered Kilkenny last year in this area. I thought Kilkenny got it badly wrong here and Morrissey, Hayes and Hegarty ran riot!

I have to say though that I felt the day of the League final Kilkenny were very poorly set up. I was right behind Derek Lyng that day and he was getting extremely frustrated.

Again I don’t think that game will have a huge bearing on the result next Sunday, but I just think the Limerick management will have that bit too much experience on the line when it comes to set ups and tactics.

Of course with five minutes to play if it’s even-steven it becomes irrelevant then. I think the longer Kilkenny are in the game the harder it will be.

If we can put them to the pin of their collar and have some breathing space coming down the home straight, it will be slightly easier.

But you can’t shrug off these boys and we all know they will die with their boots on! It’s one more big one.

And for anybody travelling, bring yourself back to 2018. If you were in Croker or shouting at the TV. Remember the hunger and desire you had then to win just one.

Well if that hunger or desire has anyway slipped, even by a small margin, get it back, and bring it Sunday.