MUNSTER SFC: In order to continue the progression of Limerick football under Liam Kearns nothing less than a return to the Munster final will suffice. They travel to Cork on Saturday night to make sure the preparation is perfect for the potential banana skin of Tipperary the following day in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The provincial decider is ideally scheduled for the refurbished Gaelic Grounds, giving Limerick an ideal opportunity to finally live up to the potential Kearns firmly believes his team possess - even if others don't.

"The media and others want to compartmentalise this team," said Kearns. "They think we can only go only so far and that will be that. The average age of the panel is 24, so they have to improve over the coming years. The average inter-county footballer plays until he is 30, so this side will be around for another five or six years."

Although the traditional big two of Cork and Kerry are on the other side of the draw, Limerick still have two tricky hurdles to negotiate. Presuming they beat Tipperary they must then overcome a Waterford side full of last year's Under-21 Munster championship winners.

First up though are Tipp, a county that has had Limerick's number in championship meetings since 1991. Yet Kearns is quick to point out that his own side have yet to play them and that precedent counts for little. All the same, defeat would be disastrous.

Victories in the league over Armagh and Laois and progression to the semi-final would pale into insignificance.

"Defeat would be a serious setback," he concedes. "We are trying to get back to the Munster final and there is no use in getting there in two or three years. We're getting used to contesting the big games, so it's coming to the stage where we have to consolidate what we have achieved. It's the diminishing returns idea.

"We have reached some of our goals so the targets become harder and harder. If we don't win Munster this year we will be expecting to win it next year."

The fate of Tipperary football has long been associated with Declan Browne. If Limerick can put the shackles on one of the best players in the country they all but guarantee themselves a place in the Munster semi-final.

"He is a special player and of course we will have to keep our eye on him. We can't stop him having some impact so it's just about restricting him."

How will be revealed on Sunday but as ever Tipp's jewel can expect plenty of attention.