They've beaten Kilkenny and Cork already this year, their top players are showing form and their opponents have lost their captain to injury. Limerick will no doubt attempt to get physical, but despite their attacking "air, the Deise are no soft touch. If they can keep their cool and play anything close to their potential, this should be a straightforward task. Ken McGrath is capable of negating the inspirational Ollie Moran while Limerick's other forwards have shown signs of pro"igacy in front of goal. They showed huge resolve to overcome Tipp in a three-match epic, but Babs Keating's crop this year is far from vintage. Many will say that Waterford could be their own worst enemy this afternoon but having been around for this long, they're big enough and ugly enough to get those heads right, while Limerick will have had to deal with their own share of hype, despite underdog status. In a shoot-out, there'll only be one winner: Waterford pulling up.

BACK GALWAY TO WIN BOTH HALVES AGAINST SLIGO IN THE CONNACHT SFC FINAL 5-4 Odds quoted are from Paddy Power Big day for Sligo who, despite making big impressions on the All Ireland quali"er series since its inception, have never really come close to winning their first provincial title since 1975. It's probably the last chance for some of their top names with the likes of Sean Davey talking of retirement, and they're certainly talking a good game, doubting all week whether Galway's victory should be such a foregone conclusion.

They showed enormous character in their comeback win over Roscommon in the semifinal, but Galway's half-back line won't allow Davey and Brian Curran to run riot as they did in the closing stages that day. Sligo's great days of recent years were orchestrated by Peter Ford, who is in the opposite dugout this afternoon and obviously knows what he's up against. Backing Galway with the "ve-point handicap offered is risky in a "nal that regularly throws up low-scoring encounters, so take the similar odds that Galway win both halves this afternoon.

Where the money was. . .

BACK MARIAN BARTOLI TO BEAT JUSTINE HENIN AT WIMBLEDON 129-1 (Betfair) Our headline bets for Wimbledon may have fallen by the wayside but as far as Marion Bartoli is concerned, we're pretty confident that you read it here first. Listed as one of our ones to watch, the Frenchwoman found herself 6-1 down to Justine Henin in the semi-"nal, her odds drifting to 129-1 on Betfair. Generally such long odds only attract the odd euro but one punter managed to get ?270 on at that price, with plenty willing to back Henin at 1-100. In total, over ?5.9m was matched on Henin at 1-20 or less before Bartoli's remarkable comeback.