An historic, yet far from memorable victory in the Munster final a fortnight ago has brought Limerick to the All-Ireland under-21 football semi-final for the first time, but there's an even higher wall to ascend today in Portlaoise (7.0) as they try to get past the title holders Westmeath.
Just over a year ago Westmeath won their first Leinster title before going on to claim the All-Ireland crown, but they glowed with confidence in the provincial decider this time. Captain Dessie Dolan was the inspiration in the one-point win over Meath in a encounter enjoyed by some 9,000 - mostly Westmeath - supporters.
Manager Luke Dempsey has named an unchanged side from that 0-7 to 0-6 win over Meath - the lowest scoring final since the inauguration of the grade in 1964 - with the equally effective JP Casey again joining Dolan in the full-forward line. "We pulled out all the stops to beat Meath," says Dempsey, "but this is a different sort of challenge. They're a equally physical side but we don't really know what to expect."
Limerick - who also managed just seven points in the disappointing clash with Waterford in Dungarvan - have left a vacancy at wing forward in the hope that Seamus Burns will be fit to return. Otherwise manager Liam Kearns has settled on the same line-up, where forwards Colm Hickey and Brian Begley are key performers.
As well as the trio of dual players in Begley, Brian Geary and Stephen Lucey, Limerick also benefit from the basketball skills of John Galvin at midfield. Still, it's going to take a much greater effort than that witnessed in Dungarvan to overturn Westmeath.
Westmeath: G Connaughton; M Burke, J Keane, B Murphy; D Kilmartin, J Coyne, S Donoghue; K Burke, J Brennan; F Wilson, G Duffy, R Brown; JP Casey, D Heavin, D Dolan.
Limerick: M Keogh; M O'Riordan, P Fitzgerald, B Geary; C Mullane, S Lucey, T Stack; J Stokes, J Galvin; P Ahern, T Carroll, A N Other; C Fitzgerald, B Begley, C Hickey.
