Limerick hope the same mix will spark again

Limerick will start Sunday's Munster hurling semi-final against Waterford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh with the same team that dethroned…

Limerick will start Sunday's Munster hurling semi-final against Waterford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh with the same team that dethroned Cork of the provincial title 10 days ago.

Manager Eamonn Cregan had at least four major injury worries in his team earlier this week but all of them managed to come through training last night without displaying a serious threat to their fitness.

TJ Ryan and Jack Foley, both suffered ankle injuries during the shock win over Cork, but Ryan is again placed at full back and Foley, who replaced Mark Keane at half-time, will again start among the substitutes.

Full forward Brian Begley - who gave a gigantic display against Cork - was nursing a hand injury but that too has fortunately made a sufficient recovery.

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The other injury was less serious and concerned midfielder Mike O'Brien, who suffered a blow to the face against Cork. He made the expected recovery and will once again partner James Moran at midfield.

Limerick's full forward line of Johnny Butler, Begley and Barry Foley, which performed so impressively against Cork, is set to provide a stern test on the Waterford full back line.

But it is there where Waterford are perhaps at their strongest, with the experienced Tom Feeney, Sean Cullinane and Brian Flannery set to provide their final line of defence.

It emerged this week that a meeting was set up with representatives of the Munster rugby team prior to the game with Cork, where aspects of their successful run in the last two European Cup campaigns were discussed with the Limerick panel.

The two representatives were Mick Galwey and forwards coach Niall O'Donovan.

The victory over Cork was Limerick's first championship win since 1997, when they produced a six-point win over Waterford.

Two years ago, however, Waterford got revenge with a one-point win and this meeting will mark their fifth meeting within the last decade.

LIMERICK (SH v Waterford): T Houlihan; S McDonagh, TJ Ryan, B Geary; C Smith, C Carey, M Foley; J Moran, M O'Brien; P O'Grady, O Moran, M Keane; J Butler, B Begley, B Foley.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics