We canvass hurlers throughout the province for his or her tackle this Sunday’s All-Eire last showdown between Limerick and Kilkenny.

Keelan Molloy (Antrim)

YOU actually couldn’t argue that isn’t the 2 greatest groups within the nation going head-to-head once more this 12 months.

Limerick and Kilkenny had been All-Eire finalists final 12 months, they’re again once more they usually’ve each received their provincial titles again once more this 12 months as properly so that you couldn’t argue that it’s not the 2 greatest groups within the nation going at it.

I used to be speaking to a couple of my associates the opposite day about it and we had been saying that Kilkenny are going to should try to shut down Aaron Gillane if they’ll have any likelihood in any respect of profitable the sport.

However I feel the position with Richie Reid performs within the defence, Cian Lynch might have a extremely huge affect on the sport. Limerick will try to drop lengthy balls into the ahead line, and Richie will attempt drop again to cowl so I feel Cian Lynch could have a giant say in it.

I’m going to should say that I see Limerick profitable it, I actually couldn’t go in opposition to them the best way they’re enjoying on the minute and over the past couple of years.

It’s going to take an excellent group to ultimately beat them however after all if anyone goes to truly beat them then it’s going to be Kilkenny but when I had any cash to placed on it I’d positively be placing it on Limerick.

Verdict: Limerick

Rory Porteous (Fermanagh)

I THINK with the match-ups for the semi-finals being the identical as final 12 months, we had been hoping to see a special end result and that the groups that misplaced would have discovered one thing, however Kilkenny and Limerick are only a stage above.

The consistency that these two groups hav is remarakble. Each gamers know easy methods to get the job finished. It’s a ability profitable a semi-final and each these groups have it.

Final 12 months Eoin Cody for Kilkenny, e was matched up with Sean Finn however with Finn lacking, he’ll positively be trying to try to take benefit and perhaps get a couple of extra alternatives than he received in final 12 months’s last.

The best way he’s been enjoying this 12 months, if he does have last then he’ll most likely go on to win Hurler of the 12 months as properly. I’d say he could lead on the battle for Kilkenny within the last.

However it’s onerous to look previous Limerick, purely as a result of they’ve been there and finished it so usually and each time that they’re questioned, they find yourself answering these questions after which some. They make groups which are hurling brilliantly look actually abnormal.

I’d say that it’s onerous to look previous Limerick. They’re like a machine. I feel the one likelihood that Kilkenny have is that if they will actually reap the benefits of the gamers that Limerick have lacking and perhaps aren’t performing to the identical stage.

They’ve been in a position to get away with out Declan Hannon now for a few video games, Sean Finn is clearly lacking too after which Cian Lynch hasn’t actually been capturing the lights out the best way he’s able to doing.

So, if Kilkenny can discover a chink within the armour that may flip the tide, they could have an opportunity nevertheless it’s onerous to look previous Limerick to be trustworthy.

Verdict: Limerick

Diarmaid Carney (Cavan)

I WOULD say the 2 greatest groups are within the last. It’s been a aggressive championship all through with a couple of heavyweights knocked out early on, so I feel it’s becoming sufficient that presumably among the best groups to ever play the sport are developing in opposition to one of many higher groups of the noughties. It’s going to be a really fascinating recreation and a extremely powerful one to name. Clearly, there’s going to be numerous discuss within the media and the toing and froing about match-ups and that, so it’ll be fascinating to see now the way it performs out on Sunday.

It’s no shock that everybody goes to be speaking about Aaron Gillane, I feel he might be a game-changer. Clearly, Kilkenny will likely be trying to their very own huge hitters like Adrian Mullen, Mickey Butler within the backline, however Gillane is simply an excessive amount of of a prime class ahead.

He’s in too sizzling of kind that I’d think about the whiteboards in Kilkenny’s coaching camp will likely be specializing in easy methods to management Aaron Gillane. He’s an excellent free-taker and if he doesn’t rating from play, Limerick will clearly be minus that bit of sophistication however he’s the person to look out for.

I’d have questioned lately the interval of transition that Kilkenny are going via however after the Leinster last I really feel they’ve that little bit of chunk to them nonetheless, to battle to the bitter finish.

Clearly, it was a detailed last final 12 months, so I feel it’s going to be the identical this 12 months. I’m going to go in opposition to the grain and I’m going to tip Kilkenny simply to have that wee bit extra chunk. I shouldn’t be questioning the starvation of Limerick however I’m going to go for a Kilkenny win.

Verdict: Kilkenny

Niall Garland (Monaghan)

LIMERICK will likely be favourites as a result of they’re by no means crushed and to be able to beat them, I feel you’re going to should play for 70 full minutes. There’s most likely numerous discuss of a shootout between (Aaron) Gillane and (Eoin) Cody so whoever wins that battle might become key to the general end result.

However on the similar time, I wouldn’t be stunned if the match winner on both facet got here from somebody perhaps below the radar a bit. I feel Limerick have extra match winners within the arsenal than perhaps Kilkenny do, however Kilkenny are Kilkenny.

They’re not going to cease, and I wouldn’t be one bit stunned in the event that they do it. I’d most likely barely fancy Limerick but when Kilkenny got here out on prime, it wouldn’t shock anybody.

There’s numerous speak about that Limerick half-back line and extra usually or not, all three of them practically win their particular person battles so it’ll be fascinating to see can Kilkenny even win one in every of them.

If Declan Hannon is enjoying and he’s not totally match, who’s going to exit on him and goal him? So, it’ll be fascinating to see what street they go down. Mickey Butler stored Tony Kelly quiet the final day so if he picks up Gillane and retains him to even two or three factors, that itself might be a match winner.

It’s all arrange; no group has finished 5 in-a-row, and I do know Limerick are solely going for 4 and Kilkenny had been the final group to do this and no higher group to cease somebody matching what they did and practically attempting to place to mattress what was the best group.

You may by no means say that Kilkenny are crushed however it’s a must to play for 70 minutes. Limerick might not play properly for 70 minutes however they’ll all the time be within the recreation whereas if the opposition tune out, Limerick might blow you away. After they get a purple patch, they’re nearly unattainable to cease and I can’t see previous Limerick.

Verdict: Limerick

Brian MacIntyre (Donegal)

IT’S the identical as final 12 months and Limerick are clearly moving into as favourites, however I’ve a elaborate for Kilkenny this 12 months.

I’m undecided why however there’s one thing about them attending to the finalagain and Limerick have been so constant the entire time, however I feel Kilkenny are coming good on the proper time.

Particularly with the likes of TJ Reid and Richie Hogan off the bench, I’d prefer to see them win yet another perhaps, so I’d be edging in the direction of them.

Eoin Cody is the apparent standout participant on the minute for Kilkenny, he’s flying it, and I feel it’s going to return all the way down to Aaron Gillane and whoever marks him and whoever comes out on prime of that’s the huge one.

Whether or not it’s Mickey Butler or somebody of the identical dimension and physique, they might go together with Huw Lawlor or Tommy Walsh perhaps however whoever comes out on prime of that match up will win the sport.

However there’s often completely different males that step up as properly and Limerick have a lot high quality in Gearoid Hegarty and Cian Lynch and any of them lads can simply produce it on All-Eire last day and there’s practically too many fires to place out for Kilkenny, that they should practically deal with themselves.

I simply have a elaborate for Kilkenny for no matter cause, there’s not a lot logic behind it. Limerick have been so constant and are favourites for a cause however Kilkenny have loads of expertise themselves.

Even lads coming off the bench likes Walter Walsh, Padraic Walsh, Richie Hogan, (Cillian) Buckley, they’ve a great deal of expertise and it’s not going to overwhelm them enjoying within the All-Eire last. They could have that wee edge in order that’s perhaps why I’m tipping them.

Verdict: Kilkenny