What our pundits think of Limerick's prospects in Munster senior hurling championship

BARRY Foley, Paudie O'Brien, Tom Condon, Aoife Sheehan and Maurice O'Brien give their thoughts ahead of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship. 

Barry Foley (Former Limerick hurler)

What did you make of Limerick’s Allianz league campaign?
“IT'S been up and down, some good performances and some mediocre enough performances. I suppose, one of the good things is that some of the young fellas got good gametime. Shane O'Brien and Adam English have done well. The worrying aspect would be that a lot of the senior guys haven't really performed consistently and that's worrying enough going into the Championship.

Will we see new faces in the Limerick starting XV this year?
You have lot of regulars that haven't got much gametime in the league through injury. I think there needs to be some bit of freshenss. Barry Murphy had a great league campaign, he's definitely in for a championship spot I would think. There's some guys that have played themselves up the pecking order for Championship. I certaintly envisage a few changes for the Championship.

What do you expect from Tipperary in the opening round of Munster SHC?
I think Tipperary will be very disappointed with their performance last Sunday against Cork and it will probably impact them in them in the first round of the championship.They struggled to deal with Cork in many areas and I’d expect Limerick to identify areas of weakness and target them and I would expect Limerick to win the match.

What three teams will come out of Munster?
Limerick, Cork and Clare

Who are the favourites to win the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship?
I certainly think Limerick have a right shot at it, Cork won't be too far away. I'm not too sure will Limerick win Munster but they will certainly get out Munster, they'll improve when they get of Munster. I still think Limerick will win Munster.

Paudie O'Brien (Former Limerick hurler)

What did you make of Limerick’s Allianz league campaign?
“LIMERICK probably would have been delighted with the amount of players they saw in the league, especially the younger players.The performances in the tail end of the league would probably not be up to the standard they expect.
I'd also be fairly confident that they are looking ahead to bigger and better things

Will we see new faces in the Limerick starting XV this year?
It's hard to know, they were obviously away on their training camp. They'll be going through a fairly intense block of work, I would say with that comes with a fine balance of injuries and form.You would expect two or three new faces going by the National league. There's a lot guys there who are tried and tested and John Kiely will be fairly well aware of that. I wouldn't expect to see wholesale changes.

What do you expect from Tipperary in the opening round of Munster SHC?
I've been very impressed with Tipperary since the start of the year. They look to be extremely fit for this time of year and they have just carried that through. I expect Tipperary to learn loads from their defeat to Cork. I think this will be a huge match for Limerick. I think the first match in Munster is massive.

What three teams will come out of Munster?
Limerick, Clare and Tipperary

Who are the favourites to win the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship?
I still think it's between Limerick and Clare at the moment. I know there's a lot of talk about Clare's league campaign, they are a seriously good Championship team. Limerick are one of the most consistent teams in Ireland and I don't think they are going anywhere. I think Limerick are being forgotten about, I do expect Limerick to get better as the year goes on.

Tom Condon (Former Limerick hurler)

What did you make of Limerick’s Allianz league campaign?
“OVERALL, it was a mixed kind of league. I think John Kiely will be fairly happy that he got a lot of the league as in trying out new players and giving more gametime to fringe players.
He was able to rest the more established players that have been on the road a long time.
Overall, they'll be fairly happy.

Will we see new faces in the Limerick starting XV this year?
You have to freshen things up and you have to introduce new blood. I think there is going to be a few surprises.
I think there is definitely going to a few new inclusions in the team. It's something that will probably have to be done.
They'll be a completely different animal than they were in the league. John Kiely and Paul Kinnerk know they have introduce new blood into this team to keep it going.

What do you expect from Tipperary in the opening round of Munster SHC?
Tipperary had a great start to the league campaign. Tipp competed physically with Limerick in the league, they have progressed this year. I think the Munster Championship is wide open this year, any team on any given day could beat each other. I think it's going to be the most competitive Munster Championship to date.

What three teams will come out of Munster?
Limerick, Cork and Tipperary

Who are the favourites to win the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship?
I suppose, going by form at the moment it has to be Cork. Cork appear to be ahead of most teams at the moment. You can only go by form and Cork are the standout team at the moment.

Maurice O'Brien (Former Limerick hurler)

What did you make of Limerick’s Allianz league campaign?
“It was a mixed bag. I thought there was a couple of good performances mixed in with a couple of below par performances especially towards the end of the league.
The team have probably found one or two new players to add to what we have already.

Will we see new faces in the Limerick starting XV this year?
I think you're going to have to see a couple of new faces. There has to be an introduction of a couple players into the team, all probably names that we know from coming off the bench over the last couple of years. Adam English has really put down a marker, Shane O'Brien has followed up from his Munster final performance, Aidan O'Connor is very close to starting, Colin Coughlan has really impressed in the league. Barry Murphy has re-invented himself as a corner back. There is definitely healthy competition for places.

What do you expect from Tipperary in the opening round of Munster SHC?
I expect Tipp to come all guns blazing, they had a major setback in the league final and losing in the manner they lost to Cork on Sunday is a hammer blow. There is very little time for them to regroup and I would expect Tipp to bring everything.
Is that enough to beat Limerick? I'm not sure.

What three teams will come out of Munster?
Cork, Limerick and Clare

Who are the favourites to win the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship?
Cork are All-Ireland favourites at the minute and on form, they are streets ahead of everyone. As it stands right now, I think they are All-Ireland favourites

Aoife Sheehan (RTE Pundit)

What did you make of Limerick’s Allianz league campaign?
“I THINK Limerick managed their league well and didn't look like they were chasing silverware. Limerick were without key players at different stages but the lads that came in, slotted in well. Adam English, Aidan O'Connor, Shane O'Brien to mention a few got valuable playing time. Some performances were below their own standards but all eyes are on championship now.

Will we see new faces in the Limerick starting XV this year?
Yes, and with games coming thick and fast in the Munster Championship the new faces will be needed.
New face in goals, both Shane Dowling and Jason Gillane got good league time. Doon clubmen Adam English and Barry Murphy performed well and could be in line to start. Aidan O'Connor and Colin Coughlin got valuable game time also.

What do you expect from Tipperary in the opening round of Munster SHC?
They had a tough league final, I think Cork hit them with pace and they didn't have an answer for it.
There will be a reaction from them, especially in Thurles, but I think Limerick will get the win.

What three teams will come out of Munster?
Limerick, Cork and Clare

Who are the favourites to win the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship?
Cork are favourites to win the All-Ireland, but I still think Limerick will win the All-Ireland!