PREVIEW: Limerick meet Waterford with All-Ireland final spot on the line

John Kiely’s Limerick team face Waterford this Saturday in Croke Park, seeking successive All-Ireland final berths for the first time since 1974.

Limerick take on the Deise in the All-Ireland semi-final in a repeat of last years Liam MacCarthy decider.

The Shannonsiders were comfortable 0-30 to 0-19 winners in the December final and will once more carry the favourites tag into the Croke Park meeting.

Limerick put on a clinic in their previous outing, defeating Tipperary 2-29 to 3-21 in the Munster final. Having trailed by ten at the break, Kiely’s side were level by the waterbreak after a devastating period of hurling that the manager admitted was their “strongest quarter in five years.”

In the end Limerick were comfortable in winning a third Munster title for the first time in 85 years which has allowed them a two week break.

Meanwhile, their opponents have had to come through three games to reach the same stage.

In the first round of the qualifiers, the Deise were pushed all the way by Laois, needing late goals from Patrick Curran and  Stephen Bennett to secure a 3-23 to 2-21 victory.

The following week, Waterford were far improved and put Galway to the sword in the opening half of their meeting, leading 1-18 to 0-9 at the break. That lead was improved to 16 in the second half before a Waterford collapse allowed the Tribesmen within three, as they held out for a 1-30 to 3-20 win.

Cahill’s men were arguably at their best on their third successive outing as they overcame Munster finalists Tipp 4-28 to 2-27 to book their semi-final spot.

Waterford raced into an early lead but were pegged back by a Seamus Callanan double. Stephen Bennett’s penalty midway through the second half had Waterford eight clear but a late Shaun O’Brien stop on John McGrath was needed with Tipp clawing their way back to within two.

Nonetheless, their reaction down the home stretch will give the Waterford faithful much hope that they can upset Limerick and gain some revenge for the 11-point All-Ireland mauling eight months ago.

Fatigue will be a real concern to Cahill and his side who have had to come through three gruelling games while Limerick watched on from the comfort of their homes.

The two week break will have given Kiely ample time to consider his options ahead of Waterford with some positions in the starting XV certainly up for grabs.

Against Tipperary, back-to-back All-Star and free taker Aaron Gillane was named from the bench with Peter Casey and Graeme Mulcahy named in the corners either side of Seamus Flanagan.

However, Mulcahy, who was named in the place of the Patrickswell man was hauled ashore prior to the half time whistle with Gillane making an immediate impact on his arrival, notching 0-6 from play and place balls.

At the other end of the field, reigning All-Star full back Dan Morrissey was resigned to the replacements for the second consecutive game.

Like Gillane, he was on the field prior to the short whistle, with his introduction seeming to settle the Limerick rearguard.

In the 40 minutes that Gillane and Morrissey spent on the field, Limerick outscored Tipp 2-19 to 1-7 with both pushing hard for starting berths.

Cahill’s side is likely to remain unchanged from Tipp with the Waterford men coming out of their three game salvo relatively unscathed.

Yet, with the added advantage of the break, the confidence from the Munster final display and their recent domination of the fixture, it is Limerick’s to lose on Saturday evening.