Weekend hurling

Limerick v Tipperary:We're about as wise going into this third match as we were at the start of the saga two weeks ago.

Tomorrow's Guinness Munster hurling semi-final second replay should be tilting in Limerick's direction. They must have grown in confidence over the course of two and a half matches - neither the narrower margins the first day, nor a 10-point deficit last week, have proved sufficient to break them.

In contrast, Tipperary have suffered quite a bit of turmoil between injuries and the sensational dropping of Brendan Cummins. Manager Michael Keating looked fit to be tied after the match ended last week and didn't appear entirely in the humour for Richie Bennis's euphoric entry on the scene of the tv interview.

The main reservation about Limerick so far has concerned their scoring capacity. Yet, they stuck up 1-19 in 70 minutes in each of the first two matches.

Of greater concern has to be the state of crisis that seems to be the necessary prompt for the fireworks to begin. Limerick have had to be staring defeat in the eyeballs before they respond with full vigour.

Whereas Tipperary have been increasingly spooked by the inability to put away their opponents, it's worth noting that in both matches Limerick have blown a winning platform. In the first match, even though down to 14 men, they had momentum in the second half but didn't make it pay.

A week ago they looked certain winners going into extra-time, but conceded an early goal that drip fed Tipp to a draw.

Overall, though, the Limerick attack looks at its most menacing to date with Brian Begley and Seán O'Connor back.

Tipperary need to sustain the effort and a close-run, score-for-score match would suit them better than shooting the lights out and then going to sleep.

L IMERICK: B Murray; S Lucey, D Reale, S Hickey; M O'Riordan, B Geary, M Foley; M O'Brien, D O'Grady; N Moran, O Moran, M Fitzgerald; A O'Shaughnessy, B Begley, S O'Connor.

TIPPERARY: G Kennedy; E Buckley, D Fanning, D Fitzgerald; E Corcoran, C O'Mahony, H Maloney; S McGrath, J Woodlock; J Carroll, D Egan, B Dunne; S Butler, E Kelly, L Corbett.

Referee: Seán McMahon (Clare).

... Munster SHC - Semi-final (replay)