Firstly I want to explain why I was so 'unrealistic' in advance of my prediction of our great win last night. Limerick were a highly overrated team coming into this off the back ofir all-ireland appearence last year. They got all the breaks last year and in turn Waterford were unjustly denyed a final berth. The main aspect that gave me tremendous hope was in imerick disposing of the services of Brian Begley. He was their talisman who along with his own goals proved a huge asset to those around him and O' Shaughnessy and co. revelled in it. His absence left a gaping crator to fill, and with the reasonably strong backline, the evidence was there for much of the KK match, that we would hold them at bay. We were due a big performance, it was in us, we believed. Calling a spade a spade, and ven listening to Joe Dooley's comments prior to the game that "the championship only begins today for us", we were well and truly beaten before we left the dressing room in Portlaoise. I expected a ten point or less beating that day. Im no saying we would beat KK, they are an awesome team, but last night confidence seeped through the team as we go on top. Apart from a ten minute spell in the second half we controlled matters. There is very little on any given day in pure hurling ability alone between ourselves, Limerick, Clare, Wexford, and to an extent Waterford and Galway. Galway, like waterford are a very attack minded teams, capable of putting up big scores, but can be suspect at the back which if our front nine click and work as a unit can really test these. I just feel Cork and Tipp (who should have around eight points to spare today in my opinion) are a bit ahead with KK further. These are just my views, I am realistic and I know when we have a chance, a decent chance to cause an 'upset'. Im not predicting an all-ireland appearence by us this year, but is a semi an impossibilty?? Where there's a will, ther's a way!
