Limerick minors bid to bridge 40-year gap

Brendan Larkin LIMERICK bid to reach their first All-Ireland MHC final at Croke Park in 40 years when they play Dublin in this afternoon’s semi-final at Nowlan Park (12.30pm)

The Shannonsiders won the Centenary final played in Thurles beating Kilkenny in a replay. The 1965 final was ironically against Dublin who defeated Limerick 4-10 to 2-7. Dublin's last appearance in the final was in 1983 when they defeated Galway 0-10 to 0-7.

Clare native Tom Fitzpatrick is Dublin's manager and his side's progression to the penultimate stage hasn't surprised him. "This team is the product of some outstanding work being done at U14, 16 and 17 levels.

The Forrestal (U14) and Nenagh Co-Op (U16) tournaments were a tremendous training ground," he said. "I've always felt the talent was in Dublin given the huge pick. It was only a question of putting in the work, and the results would come."

Dublin's victory over Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final surprised the country but not the manager.

"We were thrilled at our victory over Wexford in the final but I wasn't surprised. The belief the players have in their own ability is what has the team where it is at present, and while we respect our opponents, we fear no one. We'll go into today's game confident we can get another good result."

Limerick manager Tim O'Connor is mindful of Dublin's form.

"Any team that defeats Kilkenny and Wexford has to be respected," he said "A lot of people have been pointing to how poorly we fared against Cork in the Munster final after giving Tipperary a trimming in the semi, and how we struggled to beat Antrim in the quarter-final, but since those games, we have worked extremely hard in getting the players' minds right.

"I was in Portlaoise last Saturday watching the first semi-final and Dublin are similar to Galway in that they have a couple of very big players in key areas around the field and won't be horsed off the ball like Cork were.

"If we can repeat the form we displayed against Tipperary in Kilmallock it would take us a long way towards reaching our first final in 21 years."

On the strength of Dublin's impressive form they will start as favourites, but there could well be a kick left in Limerick, provided Don Hanley recovers from an ankle injury.