TIPPERARY’S 2010 All-Ireland winning boss Liam Sheedy says that the Premier County need to win a Munster senior hurling championship title this summer.
Sheedy will have a close eye on Sunday’s provincial quarter-final in Thurles, as the winners of the Clare-Limerick tie will face Tipp in the semi-final on 21 June.
And Sheedy, a key member of RTÉ’s panel of championship analysts, has warned his native county of the task that awaits them in the last four.
The Portroe man revealed: “Only once in the last eight years has the quarter-final winner not won – that was Clare when they lost to Cork, and they went on to win the All-Ireland (2013).
“It’s going to be a really difficult assignment. But I think Tipperary need to win Munster.
“Winning that semi-final will be the platform for them to do it.
“The bookies are calling Limerick-Clare 50-50, Waterford-Cork 50-50, so it is very tight.”
Sheedy believes that Clare, even though they were relegated from Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League, pose a major threat in the province.
“I was amazed to see Clare priced at 10-1 to win Munster.
“Through the latter stages of the league they were the team to impress me.
“They were dealt a fairly harsh blow by the first two fixtures being away. It’s hard to go to Galway, go to Cork.
“Whoever wins that fixture between Limerick and Clare will present a very difficult proposition for Tipperary.
“Twelve of the last 15 quarter-final winners have went on and won the semi-final.
“There is no substitute for match practice when it comes to playing games.
“Limerick’s preparation is the very same as last year.
“They came in after a dismal quarter-final performance against Galway – limped out of the League – and came out and beat Tipperary for the second year in a row.
“I didn’t think they could turn over Tipperary in Thurles last year but they are a championship team.
“With young lads like Cian Lynch they are making progress.
“I think the Munster championship is going to be outstanding.
Sheedy has also tipped Cork to bounce back from their Allianz Hurling League final mauling at the hands of Waterford, who will be missing Pauric Mahony for the entire season due to injury.
“We’ve lost one of our stars of the summer (Mahony),” Sheedy reflected.
“People talk about the league but Cork haven’t won a title since 1998 so it’s not a competition that put a huge amount of emphasis on.
“I wouldn’t read too much into that result.”
