Padraic Maher: Hard to see anyone stopping relentless 'robotic' Limerick

Can anyone stop the relentless Green Machine lifting Liam MacCarthy for the third year in a row?

Padraic Maher is sceptical.

"The way Limerick are going at the moment, they're flying," the former Tipp defender told RTÉ Sport, in the wake of the Treaty making it two wins from two in Munster.

"People are talking about all the injuries they have at the moment but the players coming in just seem to seamlessly slot into any position on the pitch.

"They’re all so well-coached and managed. They’re playing to a certain style or playing the game a certain way on the pitch so that they all know their roles, whether they’re No 26 on the panel or No 8. They know what is expected of them.

"They make it look so easy, so robotic in that they all know what they’re doing. It seems to work and teams are finding it hard to break it down.

"We have to see what Galway and Kilkenny bring this weekend. Maybe one of them could come shooting out of the group and putting their hand up. But at the moment it is very hard to see anyone toppling Limerick this year."

Waterford ran a Limerick side that started without Kyle Hayes and lost Cian Lynch early on to within three points last weekend. It was the closest margin in the five consecutive victories over the Déise during John Kiely's reign but that scoreline was also airbrushed by two quickfire goals from Stephen Bennett and Jack Prendergast.

Nonetheless, Maher thinks Waterford could still have an important say in the destination of the silverware this year.

"Waterford got some way close but the goals were late in the second half the last day," he said.

"Limerick were well in control I felt, coming down the home straight, and the two goals put the pressure on them alright.

"From Waterford's point of view, you