Mark Connolly set to play crucial role as Limerick look to overpower Waterford

Limerick will have high hopes of claiming victory in tonight’s Electric Ireland Munster MFC play-off against Waterford in Newcastle West (throw-in 7pm).

Both counties will be hoping to recover from heavy defeats in their respective quarter-finals last week, although Limerick will take some comfort from putting up a half-decent score against Cork.

Their two first-half goals, scored by Mark Connolly, at least kept them in the tie, although the dependency on the Adare player will have to be spread around the forward line.

Waterford were actually ahead at one stage in the first half against Tipperary when they struck 1-2 in the space of four minutes.

However, they will need to be more resolute as they lost their advantage far too cheaply before Tipperary asserted full control in the second half.

In both games, Cork and Tipperary eased off towards the end although Cork were missing a couple of their leading players, which may explain why Cork weren’t as comprehensive as they were convincing in their victory.

Both teams have decent free-takers in Andrew White and Sean White and discipline will be key for both back-lines but it does appear the difference could be the speedy Connolly and his inside forward line partner James Ryan.

LIMERICK:

A Murphy (Fr Caseys), L O’Connell (Mungret), D Hanley (Ballysteen), F Murphy (Kilteely-Dromkeen), J Wallace (Glin), S Ivess (Newcastlewest), S Murphy (Newcastlewest), A Kerins (St Senan’s), M Whelan (Hospital-Herbertstown), A White (Rathkeale), M Morrissey (Rathkeale) (captain), E Sheehy (Granagh-Ballingarry), D Kelly (Newcastlewest), M Connolly (Adare), J Ryan (Athea).

WATERFORD:

TBC.