Reale expected tostart for Limerick

Team NewsLimerick captain Damien Reale is set to start in Sunday's Munster hurling final against Waterford at Semple Stadium. The hugely influential defender sustained mild concussion early in the semi-final against Tipperary - which Limerick won at the third attempt - but is now on course to resume duties at right corner back.

Reale is still being observed by Limerick team doctor Dave Boylan, and the standard advice is to avoid any contact training within two weeks of the injury. But that still leaves him in the clear to start on Sunday provided there are no further repercussions.

Manager Richie Bennis, however, is still unsure about the availability of forward Seán O'Connor, who has been carrying a hamstring injury for several weeks - and the likelihood now is that Bennis will announce an unchanged line-up when he selects his team after training this evening.

Opponents Waterford will announce their team tomorrow evening, and likewise are expected to field the same 15 that beat Cork in their semi-final.

While the sides have met as recently as 2003, when Waterford won the Munster semi-final after a replay, Sunday marks their first clash in a Munster final in 73 years.

Elsewhere, Dublin hurling manager Tommy Naughton must plan without full forward Pádraig O'Driscoll for Saturday's AllIreland qualifier against Tipp at Parnell Park.

The Lucan Sarsfields clubman suffered a dislocated elbow following a collision with Diarmuid O'Sullivan in the closing stages of last Saturday's defeat to Cork, and looks set to miss the rest of the season.

Tipperary have some injury problems of their own, and the option of recalling under-21 star Danny O'Hanlon was ruled out when he broke his hand in a club clash at the weekend.

O'Hanlon was in fact dropped from the panel ahead of last Saturday's win over Offaly, and will also miss Tipperary's Munster under-21 first round clash with Cork next Tuesday.

Wexford manager John Meyler has confirmed full back Declan Ruth will be part of his plans for the All-Ireland quarter-final, despite the player's abrupt substitution in Sunday's loss to Kilkenny.

Ruth didn't disguise his disgust at that decision, but Meyler has persuaded him to stay on until at least the end of the season.

Wexford football manager Paul Bealin, however, must plan without centre back David Murphy for their qualifier with Fermanagh in Clones on Sunday.

Murphy was sent off on a second yellow card in last Sunday's Leinster semi-final clash with Laois, but must serve a one-match ban as he also received two yellow cards in the National League outing against Cavan.

And Donegal half forward Ciarán Bonner has been ruled out of their qualifier against Leitrim on Saturday after sustaining serious facial injuries in a club game.

Bonner's county team-mate Colm McFadden received a second yellow card following the incident during the clash of local rivals St Michael's and Glenswilly last weekend, with Bonner sustaining a broken nose.

McFadden was already ruled out following his dismissal on a straight red card in the Ulster semi-final loss to Tyrone, although set to return are regular forwards Michael Hegarty and Christy Toye, who missed the Tyrone game due to injury and illness respectively.