Expect Déise to see off stiff challenge from buzzing Shannonsiders

THE first outing for the champions, and a tasty one it is for Waterford. They’re ready though — in fact if ever a team was ready to take a step up, it’s this Waterford outfit.

Look through the side Davy Fitzgerald and his management team have selected — two newcomers in the full-back line, Darragh Fives and Wayne Hutchinson, to slot in alongside another youngster, All Star Noel Connors, behind a hugely experienced half-back line of Tony Browne (aged 37, still flying), Micheál ‘Brick’ Walsh and man-mountain Kevin Moran. You’ll earn your corn against that lot.

Then you look at the firepower available to Waterford; Mullane, Foley, goal-scoring Walsh, the O’Sullivans, Mahony, a new Shanahan on the block, and Duracell Molumphy. Strong, fit, and fine hurlers all, trained and coached to nth degree — these guys are ready to step up a level.

But are Limerick ready for them? The Shannonsiders already have one title under their belts this year having claimed the Allianz Division Two crown, and don’t scoff at that. It is better to be winning than losing no matter what the grade, and after the turmoil of last season when they operated with what wasn’t even their true second team, the second flight was the perfect preparation ground for new manager Donal O’Grady as it allowed him to bring this team together again away from the spotlight.

It’s not a new team, not by any means. Look through them — Reale, Hickey, Geary, McNamara, O’Mahony, O’Grady, Moran, Ryan, those guys all have a wealth of experience at this level.

Throw in the game time gained last year by the likes of Nicky Quaid (albeit outfield), Tom Condon, Paul Browne and Graeme Mulcahy, and only Seán Tobin, Richie McCarthy and Kevin Downes are the novices — none though are set to be fazed by this occasion.

Makes for a likely-looking contest then, doesn’t it? The pressure is all on Waterford of course, very hotly fancied, and while that could well be a factor in the Limerick camp (though you’d expect they’ll be putting pressure on themselves here), allowing them to play with a little more freedom, I don’t expect it will bother Waterford in the slightest. They faced a very similar challenge last year at the same stage, under the same circumstances when they faced Clare, and while they did have to pull out the stops they won comfortably enough in the end.

There’s a bit of history between them. 2007 was the last time Limerick qualified for a Munster final but they were walloped by Waterford; Limerick then shocked the hurling world by reversing that result in the All-Ireland semi-final. Two years later, 2009, Limerick already unhappy with Justin McCarthy as manager (ironically, Waterford had replaced the Cork man after the All-Ireland semi-final loss of 2007 and he had been snapped up by Limerick), nearly took Waterford in Munster but well beaten in the replay. That defeat started their own downward slide which ultimately resulted in 2010’s debacle. That brings us to this game, all set up nicely.

Verdict: Waterford.

Picture: WATERFORD WARRIOR: At the age of 37, Tony Browne is still solid in the Waterford half-back line.