A good start will be crucial

JUST over eight months after Camogue Rovers proposed Justin McCarthy as Limerick senior hurling manager, the Corkman leads his fourth county into Munster championship action this Sunday (4pm) as he attempts to bring his winning touch to Shannonside - as fate would have it Justin McCarthy will come face to face with his old charges Waterford in Semple Stadium, Thurles.


Without or without the McCarthy factor battles between the counties in 2001, 2003 and 2007 ensure that fireworks are expected when Diarmuid Kirwan commences proceedings on Sunday.
As he did throughout the league McCarthy will not announce the Limerick team until close to the weekend.
However Kilmallock pair Bryan O’Sullivan and Gavin O’Mahony have been ruled out of contention.
O’Sullivan is suffering with a hamstring strain while O’Mahony is out with injuries sustained in an incident away from the hurling field.
Mike O’Brien had the cast removed from his hand last week and trained with the team in the last week including a workout in Thurles last Sunday evening.
However the Glenroe man has very little hurling played in the last six weeks and may not be selected to start.
David Breen was another suffering with injury and although it appears he trained in the last week and played each of the league games he may not be selected with Ollie Moran starting at the edge of the square.
Another on the doubtful list was Seamus Hickey, but his shoulder injury will not stop him from lining out - with a midfield partnership with Donal O’Grady most likely.
Down in Waterford Davy Fitzgerald has concerns over John Mullane (hamsting), Richie Foley (hamstring), Gary Hurney and Shane Walsh, who both recently lined out for the county footballers in the Munster SFC.
If the Limerick team is as suspected it will include dual players Stephen Lucey and Mark O’Riordan as well as Stephen Walsh and James Ryan, who both played Munster championship football last season.
Another in the starting team could be James O’Brien, who played with Kerry in the Christy Ring Cup last year.
Both teams have much to prove on Sunday - leaving league action aside, the last championship performance of both counties is best forgotten. While every team hopes for a good start to the 70 minutes the team that can gain an early upperhand on Sunday will begin to ask key questions regarding the self confidence of their opponents.
Waterford will no doubt seek to use their All-Ireland final loss as motivation, but likewise the qualifier defeat to Offaly and subsequent end of the Richie Bennis era hurt many in the green and white of Limerick.
It’s 75 years since Limerick were last in both the Munster senior hurling and football championship finals.
Back in 1934 Timmy Ryan captained the hurlers to glory against Waterford, but the footballers failed to Kerry.
Limerick also reached both finals in 1922, 1905 and 1895, but without success.
Sunday is all-ticket affair and tickets are on public sale for the remainder of this week from the office in the Gaelic Grounds.
The office will remain open until 7.30pm on Thursday night, while will be open from 9.30-4pm on Friday.
Officials do not expect a capacity crowd in Semple Stadium, but are urging fans to purchase tickets in advance.

PROBABLE LIMERICK senior hurling TEAM
Brian Murray (Patrickswell); Damien Reale (Hospital-Herbertstown), Stephen Lucey (Croom), Stephen Walsh (Glenroe); Mark O’Riordan (Croom), Brian Geary (Monaleen), Mark Foley (captain, Adare); Seamus Hickey (Murroe-Boher), Donal O’Grady (Granagh-Ballingarry); James O’Brien (Bruree), James Ryan (Garryspillane), Niall Moran (Ahane); Andrew O’Shaughnessy (Kilmallock), Ollie Moran (Ahane), Donie Ryan (Garryspillane).

Jerome O’Connell