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U21 side face Tipp in Thurles
A decade after Limerick's only Munster under-21 football title the county stands just 60 minutes from another provincial final.
Limerick and Tipperary meet this Thursday night in Semple Stadium Thurles at 7.30pm with Kerry and Waterford meeting in the other semi-final.
While Limerick are seeking a first final appearance since 2005 the Premier men have appeared, unsuccessfully, in the last three provincial under-21 finals.
As a further indication of the growth of Tipperary football, they have appeared, again unsuccessfully, in three of the last four Munster minor finals.
Meanwhile for the last three years Limerick's under-21 campaign came to a grinding halt at the first hurdle - in 2007 Limerick lost 0-9 to 0-17 to Cork, 12 months later Kerry proved their undoing (1-8 to 0-18) and in 2009 the Shannonsiders lost to Clare in Cooraclare (0-7 to 0-13). However, that sequence was ended in Cooraclare last week when Limerick were 1-10 to 0-10 first round winners over Clare.
"We were very happy with that result. Losing home advantage was disappointing and when people heard that they would have said that our chance was gone, but the players responded well," selector Micheal Reidy told Leader Sport.
The former Limerick senior football captain forms part of a backroom team which is led by Maurice Horan. A Ballinrobe man living in Limerick for 10 years now, Horan is joined by selectors Oola's John Ryan, Adare's Niall Crowley and Reidy.
"Ian Ryan was out and his loss was huge, but the players didn't let it affect them and they put in a great performance."
Ryan, the Limerick senior star, is suffering with a hip injury and will start Thursday's game from the bench.
"These lads drew with Kerry at minor level three years ago and the talent is there - it;s just to get them the confidence they need and that comes from winning," explained Reidy.
"If we win we have a Munster final spot which would be great, but we would also be after winning two tough games away from home in the championship and that would stand to fellas. Thursday's game could be the making of a few fellas."
He continued: "We have to build for the future - at minor and under-21 level it has never been greatm but one win can give fellas confidence to go on and improve standards and hopefully stand longer in the championship. There is always room for improvement, but the only way you can improve is to play games at the higher level," added Reidy.
Ahead of the trip to Tipp, Reidy is well aware of their rising stock in football.
"They were robbed last year by Cork in the final," he recalled.
"They have been in a number of finals at minor and under-21 level and are really putting a massive effort into promoting football."
Regardless of what the home county are doing, Reidy says that Limerick travel in confidence.
"We are very big and mobile up the middle and all the lads are well able to play football. Hopefully the conditions in Thurles will suit us."
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Weather for Limerick
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Light rain
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