Tipperary Football A Championship game
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The challenge matches are out of the way, the League is a distant memory: the big day is almost here for Tipperary's senior footballers.
A trip to Pirc U Chaoimh for a Championship meeting with Limerick beckons and it's a daunting task for all involved with the Premier County. Not long ago, Tipp would probably have entered a championship assignment against Limerick as slight favourites, such was the poverty of football on that side of the Shannon for so long.
But now it's a different story. A thoroughly rejuvenated bunch of Limerick players will travel to Cork on a high after a couple of years of relentless progress, and it will be hard to find a Sunday newspaper preview with a "Tipperary to win" prediction as its climax this weekend.
Last year, Limerick hammered Cork in the Munster championship and put up a good showing against Kerry in the provincial decider. This season they've built on those sturdy foundations and finished top of the table in their League section before again narrowly losing to Kerry in the division 1 semi-finals.
Many observers have underlined Limerick as one of the former "weaker" counties who could make a significant impact in this year's championship, in the style of Westmeath, Sligo and Fermanagh of recent times.
However, Tipperary have also been quietly improving their fortunes this season. A new management team has put together a relatively young panel - with a few wise heads thrown in for good measure - and they managed to eke out four wins and a draw from the League campaign, along with losses to Kildare and Wicklow...