Odds quoted are from Paddy Power To soil such pure and noble drama with tawdry thoughts of cash is a base notion, a pursuit of curs, but there's no darts on this week, so with apologies to the Bardf This pair have provided such stuff as dreams are made but oft expectation fails, and most oft there where most it promises. Cork will have been essaying their plot since falling to Waterford's sword and past grief will certainly play a part on both sides. But Waterford's remedies in themselves do lie, no matter how much supporters may ascribe them to heaven, and from what we've seen this year, what's gone and what's past is now at the back of focused minds. Brian Corcoran and his slanderous tongue are gone, but no matter, the play's the thing. If Ken McGrath can keep the ship steady from the back, then Cork may say good night with less-than-sweet sorrow.

But when it comes to this fixture, we are all fortune's fool, let every eye negotiate for itself and trust no agent. This column is a coward, a devout coward, religious in it, so we'll go for either side to win by a point. I go, and it is done.

BACK LIMERICK TO BEAT CLARE TODAY 10-11

Odds quoted are from Paddy Power Little to choose between this pair in the betting, but there's the nagging suspicion that these are two teams heading in opposite directions.

Clare put in a season-best performance to beat Galway, but have had injury worries since then, with Gerry Quinn a huge loss this afternoon. A more youthful Limerick side are rested after a marathon tussle with Tipperary and having given the best team in the country (right now) a run for their money in the Munster final, they have a settled and focused core spearheaded by Ollie Moran. Limerick's championship winloss record over the past decade has been woeful, but they have not succumbed easily at the quarter-final stage recently and progress has been visible, troubling Kilkenny until the latter stages in 2005 and running Cork to a point last year. Having finally gotten a monkey off their back with the win over Tipp, they are fine value to advance to an All Ireland semifinal for the first time in 11 years. For a longrange punt, both sides have missed their share of goal opportunities this season and no green flag is priced up at 14-1, not a bad insurance policy.

Where the money was. . .

BACK PADRAIG HARRINGTON TO WIN THE BRITISH OPEN LAST SUNDAY 7-1
Betfair

Padraig Harrington was at 25-1 before the tournament, but after stepping onto the 18 th tee with a one-shot lead he was as short as 1-6 for victory on the exchanges. Two visits to the water later and Harrington was out to 7-1 to win, with Sergio Garcia into 1-8. Those that had faith were rewarded whenf well, you know the rest.