Today's repeat of the Munster final follows last Sunday's repeat of the Leinster final. Quite rightly, many people hold the view that it should have been Waterford versus Wexford and Limerick versus Kilkenny instead. Such pairings would have entailed having no draw, but rather arranging the fixtures after the All Ireland quarter-finals instead. That way we wouldn't have had a repeat of the two provincial finals and Waterford wouldn't have been required to beat the same two counties twice in order to reach Croke Park in September. The arranged semi-finals look the sensible option for the future.

Not that today's match is any less interesting for being a repeat. When you consider the wider world of sport, rematches are the stuff of legend. Think of Ali versus Frazier, Coe versus Ovett, Borg versus McEnroe. Think of those great equines, Arkle and Mill House. Fans of the vanquished relish the prospect of another crack at the opposition whereas fans of the victors always have mixed feelings.

On the one hand: "We beat them already and shouldn't have to play them a second time." On the other hand: "If we beat them once we can do it again."

What do neutrals think of a Limerick/Waterford rematch? This neutral is looking forward to it, just as I looked forward to each and every instalment of Cork versus Waterford, who last Sunday gave us another cracker.

Understandably, lots of Limerick fans felt after the Munster final that their team were tired following the Tipperary saga. Call it a twist of fate; the boot is well and truly on the other foot today as Waterford have to line out for the third Sunday in succession. And Limerick have Damien Reale, who they missed badly the last time the counties met, in harness this afternoon. That's one of the advantages of the back-door system. If things go wrong on a given day, you usually get the chance to make amends sooner rather than later. In the so-called good old days, you might never have got the chance to make amends. No matter what way you look at it, the current system, even with its downsides, is better than the old system.

Limerick will be relishing the prospect of another crack at Waterford. They're entitled to say that they weren't in peak condition . . . mentally as well as physically . . . for the Munster final after their three games with Tipp. So much to do, so much to take in, all to get rid of one team.

But what worked against them in the Munster final worked for them in the All Ireland quarterfinal. Limerick looked a different team against Clare a fortnight ago because they'd had the time and space to clear their heads and take on board the positives from their provincial campaign. For the first time in light years they're a truly happy and united camp. All the negatives of the past have disappeared. All the positives of the summer have been banked.

The underdogs have a number of other factors in their favour this afternoon.

There's no weight of anticipation on them because the hurling world doesn't expect them to win . . . in fact, the hurling world probably doesn't want them to win. Reale is back in the full-back line, which means Mark Foley, an outstanding player but not a cornerback, won't suffer like he did in the closing stages of the Munster final. On top of that, Limerick have brought controlled aggression to their play.

They must maintain that in the heat of battle today. Make no mistake, it will be a battle and it will be hot.

It's no disrespect to Richie Bennis's side to say Waterford are the People's Champions. If ever circumstances were ripe for an ambush, then, these are they. Waterford, be afraid. Be very afraid.

Be afraid to assume that somehow you have a right to reach the All Ireland final. Be afraid that a battle-hardened outfit that have seen more bad days in recent years than amateur sportsmen should have to endure can smell blood . . .

your blood . . . in the water. Be afraid that Limerick are built to take you on physically and at worst break even. Be afraid that these men have a millstone of three successive All Ireland under-21 titles around their necks that they'd like to shatter into a thousand pieces. Be afraid that where your victory today would be sweet, theirs by beating the People's Champions would be even sweeter.

Waterford have to be aware of all of the above. Now that it's generally perceived they've done the hard bit by dispensing with Cork, could they take their eye off the ball, however marginally? So close to the greatest day of their lives, hardly.

Waterford have lived for today and would prefer to be facing Limerick in a semi than facing Cork, Kilkenny or Galway.

What's more, they'll have learned from the All Ireland quarter-final. They certainly did from the first instalment, where their sheer refusal to die kept them alive, and they corrected their faults last Sunday, eradicating the silly shooting of seven days earlier and creating space much better in attack.

Midfield could be a key area. The favourites have Eoin Kelly, who looks far more comfortable there and whose shooting was superb on Sunday, and Brick Walsh, a pillar under the dropping ball. Stephen Molumphy, prime All Star material, will see duty there too. It's crucial for Limerick that Donal O'Grady and their warhorse Mike O'Brien break even or near enough to it; lose this scrap and they could be overrun elsewhere.

Also, Ollie Moran, who needs to recapture his Tipp form, must do better on Ken McGrath (left) than he did last month.

Limerick can't merely hope to curb McGrath; they have to. Ditto with Dan Shanahan, who has wreaked havoc against all comers this year, today's opponents included. Quieten Dan and Limerick will be confident of quietening the other Waterford forwards.

Almost every Limerick forward has played really well in at least one of their outings. They must do so in harmony here. It won't be easy, though: Waterford only conceded one goal in the Munster final and none at all last Sunday. I imagine that Andrew O'Shaughnessy will be tailed by his old St Colman's colleague Aidan Kearney. Donie Ryan has been taken from his impact sub role and is selected from the start today as is Sean O'Connor, one of Limerick's very best forwards who returns after a long injury.

Lack of big games may hinder his performance. Eoin McGrath is retained as Waterford's impact sub, where he has been so effective all year.

All in all, Justin McCarthy's team look a more accomplished outfit than Limerick do. They're longer on the road.

They're longer on a steady road. In Cork and, in the league final, Kilkenny they beat better teams than Limerick have, neither Tipp (yet) nor Clare being the genuine article. This is Waterford's game to lose.

On the assumption that they're braced for an ambush, they shouldn't.

Having praised referees on several occasions lately, I'm sorry to have to criticise Michael Haverty's performance during the Kilkenny/Wexford match last Sunday. Not alone was it awful, it was also grossly unfair. In the first half alone I counted five blatant fouls on Wexford players that weren't punished, with play being allowed to continue and Kilkenny on each occasion either scoring or winning a free they converted. I stopped counting in the second half.

Two games to go. Let's keep up the standards. The teams deserve and should expect no less.

I was very sad to hear of the death of one of my childhood heroes from my De La Salle days, the great Tom Cheasty of Ballyduff and Waterford. Tom played centre forward on the last Waterford team to win an All Ireland, in 1959. Tom never fully recovered from the tragic death of his beautiful daughter Siobhan.

He was so proud of her academic achievements when she came first in Ireland while qualifying as a doctor. Deepest sympathy to his wife Kathleen, daughters Margaret and Catherine, son Geoffrey, and brother Edmond and Deise fans everywhere. Some time ago I asked Wexford's Billy Rackard who was the most dangerous centre forward he ever played against. His reply: "Tom Cheasty of Waterford in full flight." May your soul fly to heaven, Tom. Thanks for the memories.