Jackie Tyrrell watched Galway run Limerick close in Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final, and saw chinks in their armour that Kilkenny could exploit in the final.
"I think Kilkenny will see that Galway showed glimpses of how to take on this Limerick team - physically, structurally, match-ups, and how you can go about dismantling their half-forward line, the bedrock of the team," Kilkenny legend Tyrrell told RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport.
"They will take some bit of hope that this Limerick team can be got at in certain areas. I'd like to think that Kilkenny's shooting accuracy will be a lot better than Galway's. Physically, you have to go at these lads, you have to turn them over.
'Kilkenny don't fear Limerick'
"Brian Cody will be looking at Gearóid Hegarty, and what Fintan Burke did to him. Who will he put on him? He could put Paddy Deegan or somebody like that.
"Kilkenny don't fear Limerick. They will travel with real confidence, and an actual game plan about how they can go about Limerick. Up to this, it's been very much an invincible Limerick.
"There were times today where Limerick looked sluggish on the ball. They were doing this we hadn't seen before. That shows that they're only human at the end of the day."
2 July 2022; RTÉ presenter Joanne Cantwell, right, with analysts, from left, Jackie Tyrrell, Ursula Jacob and Anthony Daly during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Kilkenny and Clare at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Antrim hurler Neil McManus thought Galway's competitiveness was build on the performance of their half-back line.
"They said, 'We're not going to allow this unbelievable Limerick half-forward line have primary possession'," said McManus.
Fintan Burke and Padraic Mannion were outstanding. I thought Joseph Cooney was brilliant back there too. Those three lads are man mountains.
I think Kilkenny have the backline to do that. They can say, 'Look, we're going to have to leave two inside' but the way Mikey Butler played yesterday, he might be saying 'Bring it on'.
Kilkenny need to stop Aaron Gillane. The way Mikey Butler hurled [against Clare] you would assume he'll get that job.
It can be done for Kilkenny. Limerick are still the team to beat, they will be huge favourites.
Kilkenny players will tear the door off the wall coming out [of the Croke Park dressing room] to face Limerick.
Tyrrell added that he feels Kilkenny have what it takes to "bully" Limerick in the final on July 17th.
"Fintan Burke might have hit two balls today, but I'd say he hit Gearóid Hegarty maybe 40 times. Galway really did front up," said Tyrrell.
"I don't believe this narrative that you can't bully this Limerick team. I think at times, Galway did. They just didn't do it for sustained periods. When you get on top of Limerick, you need to choke the life out of them. When you get their head under the water, keep it down there, and make sure all the bubbles are gone.
"I mean bullying in physicality, in turning them over, in hooks and blocks. Bullying isn't going out pulling and dragging a lad. It's putting unbelievable pressure on them, what Limerick do to most teams.
"To be fair, Galway, at times, did it to them. That's what I mean. That incessant pressure. It's when a Limerick lad has the ball, there are four Kilkenny lads around him, and vice-versa."
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