Joe McKenna's side have shown commendable resolve to get this far, and never more so than against Clare last Sunday. To fight back from eight points down with time running out says a multitude about their physical conditioning. It also gives an insight into their psychological strength.

Clearly McKenna and his assistants know what they're at. Physical and mental steel are key requirements for any team with serious ambitions. Limerick appear well equipped in both departments.

Unquestionably they're on the right road and travelling in the right direction. What remains to be seen is how quickly they're actually moving. This afternoon will tell a tale. The game is Limerick's most important test to date in 2006. So it should be, seeing that this is a national final.

Having praised Joe McKenna and his backroom team, it's only fitting to do the same for Brian Cody and his backroom team. Many hurling fans, Kilkenny ones included, expected a lot less from Cody's players than they've shown in the current National League.

As recently as two months ago, winning Leinster and perhaps reaching an All Ireland semi-final seemed to represent the height of Noreside ambitions for 2006. Their successful league campaign has changed the outlook dramatically. Now all bets are off. Kilkenny travel to Semple Stadium with great expectations, not only for the day that's in it but also for the championship.

It was time for a number of their successful underage players of recent seasons to start delivering. They have, none more so than John Tennyson, who was outstanding in the semi-final.

A full-back by trade, only a few weeks ago he looked to be in the running for a place in one of the corners. As of this morning, however, he's poised to take up Peter Barry's mantle . . . or is in pole position to do so, at any rate. Have no doubt that if a transfer market existed in hurling, Babs Keating would be the first man knocking on the Tennyson family's front door. Tipperary's problems at centre-back haven't gone away, you know.

The wide-open spaces of Semple Stadium will suit the Kilkenny attack.

The return of Noel Hickey and Henry Shefflin has strengthened their hand whereas the loss of Mark Keane, who hit 2-10 in the other semi-final, has significantly weakened Limerick's. But it's good to see Barry Foley back in the fold and difficult to believe that 10 years have passed since he produced a blistering first-half performance in an All Ireland final. The subsequent years of turmoil in Limerick surely played a part in damaging his career and the careers of many others.

My prediction is straightforward.

With Keane out, Limerick's chances have been dealt a bodyblow. Kilkenny to win by six or seven points.

It's good to see Dublin involved in the curtainraiser, the Division 2 final.

They're another county who've been through upheaval in the last few seasons. But they've regrouped purposefully in Division 2, as they had every right to, and it's no surprise that they've reached the final.

They face Kerry, who scraped past Mayo in the semi-final seven days ago.

Mayo have made great strides under their manager Frank Browne and were highly unlucky to lose to Kerry by a late point. Had Keith Higgins, their best hurler and the county's answer to Sean Og O hAilpin, been present, they might well have won. Unfortunately Higgins was on duty with the Mayo under-21 footballers. This kind of clash wouldn't have happened in Cork (and definitely not, for obvious reasons, in Kilkenny). What a shame it had to occur to an unsung team trying to make the leap forward. But how predictable.

Conflicts of interest like these are one reason why Paudie Butler will have his work cut out for him as Director of Hurling. Knowing Paudie, he'll do everything in his power to smooth the path for aspiring counties. He's one of Ireland's leading coaches, a dedicated and committed hurling man who's tirelessly given his time to less successful counties . . . including Kerry, who he's involved with today. Congratulations and the best of luck to Paudie in his new job. I'm thrilled for him.

Congrats as well to Sean Kelly, who did more for hurling than any GAA president I can think of, on his retirement and to Nickey Brennan on his accession. Kelly worked well in tandem with the Minister for Sport, his fellow Kerryman John O'Donoghue, and the latter deserves our gratitude for the money he's earmarked for hurling.

Nickey, who's in the job only a dry (literally) week, has already said that county boards will be held accountable for what they do with this money.

Excellent.

I enjoyed my three years on the HDC.

I believe we did good work for hurling, notably in introducing the Tier 2 and Tier 3 championships and helping ensure that the weaker counties had matches in summer for the first time ever. A lot done but, of course, a lot more to do. It is ever thus with hurling.

Having shared a table with Miceal Greenan, chairman of the Ulster Council, at a number of HDC meetings over the past year, I wasn't surprised to see last weekend that he's as committed to standing up for the president as he is to the game of hurling. On a rather more positive note, I'm delighted to see that my old classmate, Ned Quinn from Mooncoin, has been appointed chairman of the new HDC. If he shows as much commitment to the game nationally as he has done to the game in his native county, hurling will be the winner. Good luck, Ned.