Time for Limerick to deliver

MOST of the attention in the hurling championship this weekend is on the Munster final in Thurles. But there are also two key qualifiers this evening, in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick.

Clare take on Laois at 5.30pm in a match that the Banner men will be expected to win, yet it is only the appetiser for the qualifier clash of the host county and Tipperary (7.30pm).

Both were beaten by similar margins in the Munster semi-finals but in very different circumstances. It was nearly four weeks ago that underdogs Limerick lost to Cork by three points, but only after handing the Rebels the initiative with a soft second-half goal.