Limerick v Tipperary: GIVEN THE contrasting NFL campaigns Tipperary must fancy their chances against a Limerick side that just about stayed in Division Three.

John Evans's Tipperary team finished strongly but are young and inexperienced compared with their opponents, who despite fielding four debutants, still can field veterans of the county's Munster final contests earlier in the decade.

Mickey O'Sullivan's side has the undivided attention of Stephen Kelly after his season playing rugby with Shannon. Tipp may be buoyant but Limerick should still be afloat by the next round.

LIMERICK: S Kiely; D Carroll, J McCarthy, S Walsh; P Brown, S Lavin, P Ranahan; J Galvin, T Cahill; S Kelly, J Ryan, S Buckley; K O'Callaghan, D Phelan, I Ryan.

TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; A Foley, M Peters, C McDonald; P Codd, R Costigan, N Curran; K Mulryan, E Hanrahan; P Johnson, B Jones, D O'Brien; S Carey, S Grogan, B Grogan.

Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare).

Clare v Waterford: THINGS HAVE certainly changed in this relationship. Last year it was a major breakthrough when Waterford recorded a first championship win in 19 years. Since then John Kiely's side have had a startlingly good NFL season.

Further good news comes with the availability of Gary Hurney, who is considered a likely starter with the hurlers next week but who made clear his commitment to the footballers. Clare didn't have a great league and must field without captain Michael O'Shea, whose thigh injury deprives them of a physical presence at centrefield. Waterford should progress.

CLARE: J Hayes; L Healy, C Whelan, D Conole; N Considine, G Kelly, J Hayes; G Brennan, G Quinlan; A Clohessy, S Collins, D Russell; D Tubridy, S Hickey, R Donnelly.

WATERFORD: T Wall; J Walsh, J Seward, T O'Gorman; E Rockett, S Briggs, M O'Gorman; G Hurney, M Ahern; A Hubbard, L Lawlor, P Hurney; B Wall, L Ó Lionáin, C Power.

Referee: Aidan Mangan (Kerry)