Ryan Bogue

(Fermanagh)

I SORT of expected Clare to beat Kilkenny but after watching it, it’s probably the two best teams in the final. I thought Kilkenny were very good, but I don’t know how bad Clare were, but Kilkenny I thought were very good.

I thought Clare were very disappointing, none of their so-called big men played well, Tony Kelly or Peter Duggan or any of those boys. They hit 23 or 24 wides, that’s a bit crazy so I think a lot of it had to do with Clare not being good.

But Kilkenny were very good; they were back to the Kilkenny of old. They played well, they were moving the ball well and they were clinical up front. I think it was probably a bit of both and that’s why I sort of think that Limerick are going to have too much for them in the final.

I just think that Limerick with Cian Lynch and Peter Casey coming back in, they have a lot of good options there now and I just feel that they’ll never be as bad as Clare were. Limerick probably just did enough to get over Galway, but I’d expect them to be better in the final.

You can never rule Kilkenny out of any game, I’d never back against them, but I just think that Limerick with Lynch and Casey coming back they have a lot of options there now off the bench whereas I don’t know if Kilkenny’s bench is that strong.

They might have 17 players there while Limerick now have a lot of options, even David Reidy came on the last day and was very good. I’d imagine Cian Lynch will start the final with maybe Graham Mulcahy dropping out.

Against Galway some of Limerick’s better men probably didn’t have their best games. Gearoid Hegarty and that were sort of quiet and I don’t think those boys will be quiet two days in a row. I think they’ll rise to the challenge now.

Definitely I would never back against Kilkenny, but I just think Limerick will just have that wee bit extra. Limerick’s defence in extra time against Galway, I thought they were unbelievable. They were just so solid, they never faltered at all.

Verdict: Limerick

Paul Sheehan

(Down)

IT’S very hard to know because you can never write off Kilkenny I suppose. Obviously with Limerick being so dominant as they have been over the last number of years it’s hard to look past them but if there’s any team that you would give a fighting chance to and wouldn’t be shocked if they did manage to turn them over it would be Kilkenny.

I wasn’t surprised that Kilkenny beat Clare, Clare had been very good but their two previous games before it, they weren’t up to the level they were in the earlier rounds in Munster. Clare drove 24 shots wide; did they take Wexford’s game against Kilkenny and see the joy that they got from the high ball in that Clare thought they would do the same?

All six of their backs, Huw Lawlor, Paddy Deegan, were unbelievable, they won every individual battle. Clare driving all the wides, it was like an avalanche once they got going and Kilkenny were very, very good.

It was nothing special or nothing out of this master playbook, it was just the basics done extremely well and they took their chances. TJ (Reid) didn’t miss any frees and got a couple from play. He had a few assists; I think the match up with Paul Flanagan and TJ was something they (Clare) got wrong too but that’s easy to say in hindsight.

TJ’s so good in the air and there’s times when Eoin Murphy looked up and just had to put the ball down on top of him and they got scores. I still think Limerick will win but I think Kilkenny will give them everything.

People keep saying is the gap closing between Limerick and the other teams, I think people have to be realistic too. Peter Casey and Cian Lynch are two massive misses. It just shows you how much they make things tick, they’re a totally different animal with Lynch playing.

It’s hard to know will he start or not if he’s fully fit. I think when he came on the other day, himself and Peter Casey, Galway were that focused on keeping an eye on them two that it opened up the space for David Reidy when he came on.

They have a wealth of resources to use on their bench as well. I think Limerick will win but there’s a big but there, I’ll not be amazed if Kilkenny manage to drag it out. I just think if I was going to put a bet on it, I’d be backing Limerick.

Verdict: Limerick

Danny Cullen

(Donegal)

IT’S going to be a tough one to call now. I suppose with Kilkenny, you can never really right them off when they’re in these situations now especially with Cody and his experience but to be honest I think Limerick are the team to beat.

You’d think there’s been another gear in them for the last number of games too, so I just think it’ll be a Limerick win. In fairness Kilkenny are a team that will have a lot of experience there too.

A lot of them boys have been in finals of club All-Irelands or senior All-Irelands so they’re going to be well up for it and they’re going to be a threat to Limerick, but I just see Limerick as the strongest team in the country and they’ve been that for the last couple of years.

It’s hard to know, you always like to see the underdogs do it, but I just don’t know if it’s going to happen at the minute. Cody’s just phenomenal with what he’s done, even with this team because they’ve been written off for years and compared to the great teams of the past.

What he has done with this group of players and to get them this far and be consistent, I think they’ve won three Leinster’s in a row, it’s been phenomenal what he’s done. He’s going to be a huge factor, I’m sure he’ll bring a lot to the final as well for them but Limerick, in the same sense, have been there and done it and all those boys have been through the mill at this stage.

I just think they’re a more seasoned team. They have two huge players in Cian Lynch and Peter Casey who just add a whole new level to their game. Aaron Gillane is going well and they’ve a very strong backline. It’s hard to know where the weaknesses are and where Kilkenny can really get at.

Verdict: Limerick