The Big Match thanks to George Corbett Cupra
Former Limerick senior hurling captain James Ryan has warned that Waterford will provide a really stern test to the reigning Munster champions at Walsh Park on Saturday night.
Ryan captained the Treaty to provincial honours in 2013 – and despite the fact they have won their last eight championship meetings with the Deise, he is warning Limerick to be wary of Waterford’s potential.
Not since June 2011 have Waterford tasted championship success against the Shannonsiders – and there was 11 points between the sides when they met last season.
Waterford go in to Saturday night’s home clash having stunned All-Ireland champions Clare on a 2-23 to 0-21 scoreline – while Limerick played out a 2-23 apiece draw with Tipperary in their opening fixture.
The Garryspillane man says there are many things to fear from a Limerick perspective.
“The scary thing about Waterford against Clare is that Waterford were kind of only stop-starting. They should have been way more ahead in the first half. Clare kind of came back, they hit a bit of a purple patch like Tipperary did just before half-time and Clare got themselves back into the game. Even Stephen Bennett, the manager, alluded to it after the match when he got Man Of The Match – and I think it was a compliment to Stephen Bennett – He said Stephen didn’t even have one of his better games! He kind of only came to life in the last 20 minutes but by God he did come to life. Waterford are going to be tough.”
Ryan says facing a Waterford team full of confidence and surrounded by feelgood factor at Walsh Park is something capable of springing a surprise scoreline to the minds of many.
“They’re on a bit of a high. We know what Waterford are like. When they’re on a high, you don’t want to meet them kind of a thing – I suppose like any team but they’ll get great confidence out of beating Clare the other day. At the end of the day, they beat the All-Ireland Champions. They were at home and they have a second home game as well. It’s going to be a very dangerous game for Limerick.”
Ballysaggart man Bennett particularly caught Ryan’s eye on Sunday last having contributed 2-8 to the cause – and Ryan believes the former All-Star is capable of even better going forward.
“Given the class he has, given the level of performance that he can get into – I’d say he’d be quite disappointed with the way he played the other day for 50 minutes but the dangerous thing about Waterford is they have a lot of game winners and they’re nearly known for game winners. You go back over the years of Paul Flynn, John Mullane, they can have this player that can just come alight and that was Stephen Bennett the other day.”
The Big Match thanks to George Corbett Cupra
WLR will bring you the game LIVE this Sunday thanks to George Corbett Cupra. – join our commentary team of Kieran O’Connor and Fergal Hartley LIVE from 5:45pm.
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