Munster SHC First round
Limerick v Waterford
Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 3.30
On known form, it's hard to see a transitional Limerick team surviving this but there are certain things in their favour. They're a championship side, sustained by a proud recent history in the province and the intensely focused direction of Eamonn Cregan. Last year they were outplayed by Cork but still hit back to give the scoreline a spurious respectability.
There are question marks about Waterford, particularly in the light of Tony Browne's likely absence. Short a couple of players last year, they arrive tomorrow with 14 of the 15 players who started last May's first championship outing. Has the requisite improvement been made?
Team News
Waterford's big concern is the injury to Tony Browne. The ankle ligament damage looks unlikely to recover fully in the space of seven days but the player has been given every chance to recover and no indication has been given of the management's plans should the midfielder be unavailable. Limerick bring three debutants into their defence, Brian Begley, Brian Geary and Clem Smith. Gary Kirby, Declan Nash and Damien Quigley, all survivors of the Munster title winners in 1994 and '96, are on the bench. Mark Foley, Young Player of the Year in '96 for displays at half back, moves to the attack.
Key Confrontation
A debutant full back is always cause for a bit of a deep breath and particularly when marking a celebrity forward. Brian Begley's initiation during the National League has gone quite well and his performances were generally well regarded. Not a big, strapping stereotype, Begley is fast and reads the game well. Fears as to the tightness of his marking will be more closely examined tomorrow when he clashes with Paul Flynn.
The Waterford player is named at full forward, the position in which he devastated Tipperary at the same venue a year ago. As has been regularly remarked, Flynn hasn't always delivered when Waterford need it but when he does hit form, he hits it in style. If that happens tomorrow, Waterford will certainly win.
View From The Camps
"I don't think Tony Browne is going to make it. When he got the injury, it put a damper on Sunday evening but we were lucky in that it gave us a week to come to terms with it. He kept us going so much last year that maybe it's time we did the same for him."
- Gerald McCarthy (Waterford manager).
"If you were judging us by our league performances, we're not very high up the ladder. But looking at the team, the training and attitude, you'd see it differently. This a very big occasion and I think - I know - we'll rise to it."
- Eamonn Cregan (Limerick manager).
Verdict: WATERFORD.
LIMERICK: J Quaid; S McDonagh, B Begley, B Geary; D Clarke, O Moran, C Smith; C Carey, J Foley; J Moran, M Houlihan, B Foley; M Foley, S O'Neill, M Galligan.
WATERFORD: B Landers; T Feeney, S Cullinane, B Flannery; P Queally, S Frampton, B Greene; F Hartley, T Browne; D Shanahan, B O'Sullivan, K McGrath; M White, P Flynn, D Bennett.
Referee: P Horan (Offaly).
Leinster SHC First round
Wexford v Dublin
Nowlan Park, 3.30
Whereas Dublin will be glad to escape playing Kilkenny which they have had to do for the last two years, Wexford pose an equally implacable obstacle. The Dublin side is slight and physically unimposing, particularly in attack. Wexford are a bad team to meet in such circumstances although they are experimenting a little in the face of injury.
Martin Storey is at full forward amid concerns for his mobility as his chronic groin complaint has reared up again recently. But overall Wexford are a level beyond Dublin in their current state of evolution.
Team News
Dublin name four newcomers to the side for the match, leaving only six survivors from the side which lost to Wexford in the Leinster semi-final three years ago. Wexford are again beset by injuries. The luckless Gary Laffan and Rod Guiney are back in the repair shop with a wrist fracture and broken finger having missed the entirety of last season. Eugene Furlong (eye injury) and likely debutant Ryan Quigley (hamstring) also miss out. Darragh Ryan makes his debut at centre forward although he played most of the National League at centre back in the absence of the now returned Liam Dunne.
Key Confrontation
The pivotal exchange will be that between Paul Codd and Liam Walsh. As the regular free-taker, Codd has acquired the burden of being Wexford's chief scorer but his overall contribution was very impressive last year. Walsh is Dublin's most esteemed hurler and can do a lot for the team if he quietens Codd and uses the opportunity to play a bit himself.
View From The Camps
"It's a very tricky game for Wexford. People say `you'll beat Dublin' but we have to perform on the day. Their under-21s beat Wexford and a few of those have come on to the team. We're treating them very seriously."
- Rory Kinsella (Wexford manager).
"I'm more optimistic. We don't have a depth of players but the present senior team are good hurlers. Four of our forwards tomorrow are under-21. That's too many but I still believe they are very good hurlers."
- Michael O'Grady (Dublin manager).
WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, G Cushe, S Flood; D Ruth, L Dunne, L O'Gorman; A Fenlon, R McCarthy; L Murphy, D Ryan, P Codd; T Dempsey, M Storey, M Jordan.
DUBLIN: B McLoughlin; J Finnegan, S Power, S Duignan; L Walsh, B O'Sullivan, D McLoughlin; M Fitzsimmons, D Sweeney; S Martin, L Ryan, S Ryan; T McGrane, C McCann, K Flynn.
Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick).
Verdict: WEXFORD
