On the urgings of Molyneaux, Limerick entered a motion at Munster Convention to change the rule in the case of the Shannonsiders, and their pitch was met favorably be delegates.  “It was only logical,” Molyneaux insisted.

Multi All-Star winner Ciaran Carey is the most high-profile Limerick player to benefit from the change and will feature at full-back on the team that runs-up against Tipperary in this Wednesday’s Final at Semple Stadium, Thurles (7.30pm).

On a dark afternoon for the county at Thurles in late June, Carey turned-in a powerhouse performance in the impressive 1-16 to 0-15 victory over Clare, as did the likes of Paudie McNamara, captain Alan O’Connor, Andrew Brennan and Richie McCarthy.

On Carey’s re-birth on the county scene, Molyneaux said:  “We put around 60 players through our hands before we finalised this panel and Ciaran was nearly always our number one choice for full-back, and he certainly didn’t leave anyone down against Clare.”

In the case of Carey, he will be hoping the Theatre of Dreams brings better joy this time that when his plucky U21s lost to Tipperary at the semi-final stage of the Munster Championship there inside the last week.

In their semi-final, Tipp – who beat Limerick in a challenge contest earlier in the year – had the measure of Cork, 1-21 to 0-17.  Lorrha, last year’s intermediate champions, contribute Noel Hogan, Patrick Maher and Ronan O’Meara to the side, while other notables for the home side include Jim Bob McCarthy, Timmy Minogue and John Lillis of Thurles Sarsfields.

It’s ten years since Limerick won the second of their Munster Championships at this grade, en route to All-Ireland success under the astute management of Frankie Costelloe and captaincy of John Cormican (Monaleen).

Victory for Limerick is a most viable prospect, but they will have to peak to topple the favourites.

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