SURVIVAL in Championship 2024 is on the line for both Limerick and Waterford who will clash in a mouth-watering contest at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday, 4pm.
A loss for either side, coupled with a win for Clare over Tipperary, and Summer action is finished.
In Limerick’s case, a draw or win will qualify the holders for another Munster Final, while just a win will enable Waterford to reach the decider.
If the tie finishes level, Limerick will advance to the Final and Waterford will finish third, thus eliminating Cork.
A defeat for the Shannonsiders would mean the season is over ahead of the June Bank Holiday Weekend.
Clare look certain to be in the Final, unless Brian Lohan’s side slip-up against Tipperary at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Ahead of a fixture that is expected to attract an attendance of north of 30,000, former Tipp star Shane McGrath, in his RTÉ column, reckoned “there is a storm coming in the Gaelic Grounds in the form of a Limerick performance this weekend.”
“We have seen glimpses of it this year but never the full package.”
He explained: “With the safety net now being pulled I feel there is a hurt there with this group and they will feel, even after all the group have done year after year, that they now need to go out and prove to themselves more than anyone that we are not gone, we are not finished, we are not gone soft because of all we have won.
“John Kiely won’t have to say too much this week because those players will lead this, they will drive this and I feel they are going to give their best performance this year so far because they know if they don’t the game could be over.”
