Emmet Moloney writes for the 'Farmers Journal' and is a former sports columnist with 'The Kerryman'.

Limerick’s match with Waterford this weekend sees Justin McCarthy coming up against the men who cost him the Déise job and a Waterford side looking for redemption. Emmet Moloney writes...

For the GAA’s 125th anniversary, someone in headquarters obviously thought it was a good time to get the hot and cold balls out. The draws have been close to perfect. You couldn’t order better than Armagh-Tyrone, Dublin-Meath, Cork -Tipperary and now Kilkenny-Galway in the hurling – thereby keeping a traditional Leinster final with the strong hope that Dublin make it. I hope the qualifier draws are as tasty as this.

This all brings us nicely onto the delicious irony of this Sunday and Waterford versus Limerick. Davy versus Justin. Again, well done to whoever organised this side of the draw – this match has spice added all over the field.

Does the way Justin was treated in Waterford matter to Limerick’s hurlers? Of course not. But it certainly matters to Justin. It has to and that must translate to the players. He has a point to prove and only his squad of hurlers can do it for him. And I think they will.

Mind games are important at this time of the year and you’d think Justin’s experience would stand to him for occasions like this. Just two weeks away from Sunday’s encounter, Justin organised a challenge match with Clare in the Gaelic Grounds. It was a behind-closed-doors event and no stragglers were allowed in. Justin was strict on this point. Banner manager Mike McNamara had to personally vouch for everyone who got off the Clare bus.

Reports from the game itself indicate a few switches in the Limerick outlook. Ollie Moran was stationed at full-forward. As I write, we don’t know either team’s line-up, but expect surprises. Seamus Hickey, Limerick’s future Tommy Walsh, is being talked about in midfield, but didn’t play that night, while the Decies look set to leave Ken McGrath at centre-forward.

Both of these moves are big. But mark my words, sometime this year you will see Hickey and McGrath restored to their key roles in defence. Both are All-Stars in the rearguard for a reason. But Justin had to tinker. Limerick’s woes are mostly in the forward line and a reliance on Andrew O’Shaughnessy that had become unhealthy.

Waterford’s problems are less on the field and more off it. They have some serious mental baggage to carry from last year and as a panel always seem to have some form of distraction in their midst. From children’s photo opportunities to badge kissing, from handshake avoiding to sublime hurling, this is the Coronation Street of hurling. What would we do without them?

Then, if all this isn’t enough they go and get Davy. Perfect. Davy’s short term last summer worked to a point. He got them to their first All-Ireland final since 1963. It all went wrong in the day and weeks leading up to that final but why wouldn’t it? Both were rookies at that stage and it was virgin territory for all concerned. Waterford wouldn’t be Waterford unless there was some form of fallout and Dave Bennett publicly questioning Davy’s tactics kicked it off.

By now Bennett and Paul Flynn have retired but apparently are still coming in for honourable mention at training from Davy. That’s his style. Everything is personal. In this respect he is pretty well matched with his panel of hurlers. There is something very individualistic about the players in his squad.

Your greatest strength is often also your greatest weakness and this is so with the Decies. Uneven championship performances have plagued them these last 10 years. They are a top side but have lost games they shouldn’t have to teams that shouldn’t live with them. Clare last year is a prime example. In some years they have clearly been the second best team in the country, like 2007, but didn’t even reach the All-Ireland final.

Who beat them? Limerick, that’s who. Richie Bennis made a silly comment in the heat of the victory asking how many goals Dan Shanahan got that day. That will be talked about in the Decies dressing room. This is what spurs them on. Brian Corocoran’s book. That’s what spurs them on. Now they have Davy. Of course, it will end in tears. That’s why we watch Coronation Street in our millions. It is never boring. While the temporary experiment of Davy preparing for the eventual Clare job continues, will the Decies do anything with him there? Doubtful.

Waterford should beat Limerick this Sunday. They have better hurlers, more championship experience and they have the most important element of all: forwards. Tasty, pacy, stylish and ruthless forwards. Nine afternoons out of 10 and Waterford would beat Limerick.

Here’s the Limerick winning scenario: they hit the ground running. Really hit the ground. The ball starts to go for them. It falls into the right hand here and there, it hops kindly, and it breaks to a free man. It starts to go over the bar. They start to believe in Justin. They buy into all that he has told them about the match. They see that he is 100% correct in his predictions about how the game will unfold. They will revel in it and they will win.

There is no team like Limerick to grow into a game or a championship. They have that ability. They are a sum-of-their-parts outfit. The Decies, on the other hand, are a moody lot. Capable, so capable, but the chink in their armour is always there.

This is a real Munster championship Sunday. A Munster final awaits the winners and for Limerick that prize still matters. The Decies? Well, you get the impression that the back door, front door or side door would do them. Their goal this year is to avenge last September. That can’t be done in June and it can’t be done in Thurles.

I’m putting my money on Limerick to win and light up the championship.


Emmet Moloney writes for the 'Farmers Journal' and is a former sports columnist with 'The Kerryman'.