Outside of the Ulster hurling championship there are only two provincial semi-finals this year that aren't being televised live and this is one of them. It's a pity in a way because their last clash in the Division 4 final back in April entertained everyone who followed it on TG4. We won't get a scoreline as big as 1-16 to 1-14 again, this being in Fraher Field rather than the vast spaces of Croke Park and the sides being that bit more wise to each other, but there'll only be a kick of a ball between them again.

Only a man with John 'Jackson' Kiely's zeal would have had Waterford even working on the dream of promotion from Division 4 but for all his sterling work the county board's decision to refrain from giving him a sixth season has been justified. They're a more refined and attacking team under John Owens, more noted now for wing-backs like Shane Briggs going forward rather than for having half-forwards flooding back. They're also more direct in their play, particularly with Gary Hurney now free of all hurling commitments.

To win today though they'll need a big game from Liam Ó Lionáin in the corner. There isn't another forward in the country that has scored more goals these past two leagues as he followed last year's haul of 6-13 with a further 5-14 this spring, but he was held scoreless against Clare in last month's opening championship game.

Limerick though have an even stronger look to them than the one that won that league final. Johnny McCarthy and Stephen Lucey return, having both missed most of the league; either Mickey Ned O'Sullivan feels they're both sharp enough for this game or that they need the game time to sharpen up for a Munster final.

Certainly another old familiar name, Stephen Kelly, must be going well if his speed is favoured ahead of Cormac Joyce-Power who had a fine league. Waterford could well today become the 30th county in the last 10 years to reach the last 12 of the All Ireland series but Limerick have the guile to grind out a result in Dungarvan. Waterford's dream is to play in a Munster final, Limerick's is to win one, and that greater ambition should see them through by three points or so.

MUNSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL: WATERFORD v LIMERICK, Fraher Field, Dungarvan, 2.00, Referee S Doyle (Wexford)

WATERFORD T Wall; M O'Gorman, T O'Gorman, K Connery; T Grey, S Briggs, E Walsh; M Ahearne, T Prendergast; B Wall, C McGrath, W Hennessy; L Ó Lionáin, R Ahearne, G Hurney

LIMERICK B Scanlon; M O'Riordan, J McCarthy, A Lane; S Lavin, S Lucey, P Ranahan; J O'Donovan, J Galvin; P Browne, J Ryan, S Buckley; G Collins, I Ryan, S Kelly