Final-quarter surge holds the key for Limerick

The one team to match Limerick in the final quarter so far in the 2024 hurling championship were also the only side to beat them.

On their way to four All-Irelands and five Munster titles in a row, Limerick's much vaunted third-quarter surge has seen them blitz opponents after the half-time break and inflict irreversible damage.

However, this year it's in the final quarter when John Kiely's team have turned the screw. In reaching a sixth consecutive provincial final this afternoon Limerick have scored 5-27 from the 53rd minute onwards, which is 35% of their championship total.

In comparison, just 17% of Limerick's scores have arrived in the opening quarter with them starting slowly in all of their games.

This rises to 21% from the 18th minute to half-time, while the traditional third-quarter surge has accounted for 27% or 2-27 of their total.

A further reflection of this is in their scoring aggregate breakdown and Limerick are minus nine points across the first quarter of their matches, rising to six points and then eight points for the third-quarter. While in the final quarter Limerick are up by a staggering 21 points so far this championship.

The five-in-a-row chasing Treaty County turned the game on its head against Clare with 3-05, scored 1-05 against Tipp and finished off a resurgent Waterford to turn a three-point lead into a 10-point win. The only team to match them in this final quarter was Cork with both teams scoring 1-08. The Rebels then are also the only team to have beaten Limerick, finishing that encounter with 1-01.

Central to Limerick's finishing power has been their ruthless shooting efficiency. In the final quarter of their championship games thus far they have a 78% shooting accuracy. With one-third of their