It's a repeat of the 2020 All-Ireland final this afternoon in Croke Park. The Deise and the Treaty return to Dublin for an All-Ireland semi with both teams looking to return to the capital in two weeks' time.
John Kiely's side enter the match as the reigning All-Ireland and back-to-back Munster Champions and are roundly tipped as the favorites ahead of throw-in.
Waterford earned their place in the last beating Tipperary in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, and Limerick similarly dispatched the Premier in the Munster final.
A Quick Start
Former Deise attacker Seamus Prendergast is hoping to see Waterford coming out of the traps quickly to try and quell the Limerick onslaught, "I think that's the most important thing for Waterford is to try and take all the chances they get in the first half and punish Limerick at every opportunity, take the game to Limerick from the very start and use the pace that they have. If they go into the tackle, Waterford are more likely to get frees I suppose. Waterford lads wouldn't be as big so you know, if they can take the man on and ride the tackle or get caught in that tackle and maybe get a free and tack over the pints; they need to build up a good score I think in the first half."
With both sides recently seeing their way past Liam Sheedy's Tipperary side, we have a useful point of comparison for the sides this year. Waterford put 4-28 past Tipp, while Limerick needed their second-half surge to score 3-21. Stats can often count for nothing, but there is a tale in those scorelines.
Prendergast is of the opinion that Waterford will need to approach this game very differently from last weekend's outing. Waterford earned a huge number of scores through turnovers in the middle of the field, but the Ardmore man doesn't think they'll find the same reward today.
"The Tipp lads probably wouldn't have had the pace that Limerick have this evening. Waterford are a fast team. Getting the ball to hand is the most important thing, and trying to keep the play as tight as possible - not to be fumbling the ball or trying to go for a second pickup or a second touch of the ball. Try and get the ball in their hand and take the man on is important."
"The movement is the biggest part for Waterford and if they can keep the Limerick backs on the move that they have a great chance to win their own puck-outs."
Limerick - Different Gravy to Tipp
Liam Cahill's side have impressed with their running game and attacking intent this year. The manager has repeatedly expressed his desire for more green flags, with his home county coming out the wrong side of that strategy most recently, while Waterfords defence has gone more unsung during the Championship.
"Well, yeah, it'll be a lot harder and the Limerick forwards seem to work a good bit harder than the Tipperary lads did the last day, but look that is Waterford's game and I don't think they'll change too much for this evening."
A question that seemed like it would never go away was "Where to play Austin Gleeson?". The uber-talented Mt Sion man could be put just about anywhere on the field and his skill would see him through 70 minutes. Prendergast is enjoying the output from Aussie while wearing the full forwards shirt, "They're probably a little bit different this year with Austin Gleeson up full forward; we've more of an outlet I suppose. Dessie Hutchinson is on his second year now as well like you know, he is probably more used to playing in the big championship games. Last year was his first year playing hurling in a good number of years you know, I like there's a lot of plusses to Waterford from the Ireland defeat of last year."
