‘Do or die’ in Thurles as Limerick face Waterford

They’ve contested the last two Electric Ireland Munster minor hurling finals but Waterford or Limerick will bow out of the championship in Thurles this evening (7pm).

Defeats against Tipperary and Cork respectively have left both counties facing a winner-takes-all provincial playoff clash at Semple Stadium, and Limerick boss Leo O’Connor believes that the momentum is with Waterford.

O’Connor said: “We’re up against it. Waterford hurling is riding the crest of a wave after last Sunday’s Allianz League final and we know that we have a huge battle on our hands.

“It’s a do-or-die battle for both teams. The two counties have been the dominant forces in Munster minor hurling finals over the last two years and they have been titanic struggles, with only a puck of the ball between us.”

Limerick won both deciders, the first after a replay in 2013, and the prize for this evening’s winners is a semi-final showdown with Cork on July 1.

After running Tipperary close last month, Waterford boss Sean Lyons has gone with the same starting 15 for this evening.

O’Connor, however, has made three changes to his line-up, with Brian Ryan and Conor Houlihan returning from injury.

Willie O’Meara, who did well after coming on against Cork at Páirc Uí Rinn, is also handed a start as Ciaran O’Connor, Colum Carroll and Michael Bourke drop to the bench.

WATERFORD (Munster MHC v Limerick):

B Nolan; D Lynch, C Prunty, D McGrath; J Henley, D Lyons, C Dunphy; C Lyons, JP Lucey; G Waters, A Molumby, E Meaney; A O’Sullivan, J Prendergast, P Hogan.

LIMERICK (Munster MHC v Waterford):

E McNamara; T Hayes, C McSweeney, J O’Grady; C Byrnes, P O’Loughlin, C Houlihan; T Grimes, W O’Meara; K Hayes, S Flanagan, B Ryan; P Casey, B Murphy, D Carroll.