Limerick hurlers and Cork footballers have crucial games this weekend. Limerick senior hurlers face Wexford in the All Ireland quarter final in Thurles at 2pm; they lost to Cork last Sunday week, but can still make the All Ireland semi-final if they beat Wexford at Semple Stadium on Sunday. Manager TJ Ryan and his management have been using the time since the Munster Final defeat to look at areas of their game where they were punished by Cork in the Munster Final, and when they step out onto the Semple turf on Sunday they will give Wexford a searching examination as they attempt to reach the All Ireland semi-final for the second year in a row. While the Model County were very impressive in their last two games, knocking out the 2013 champions Clare, and then Waterford last weekend, TJ Ryan is confident that his charges have the ability to win, as there was very little between Limerick and Cork in the Munster Final, and the elimination of the second half mistakes which lost them that game will give them every chance of reaching the last four.
Cork senior footballers are also in Qualifier action, facing Sligo in Tullamore, and manager Brian Cuthbert has rung the changes in defence, midfield and attack as they seek to recover from the double-scores loss to Kerry in the Munster Final. Several big names will be on the bench, while Brian O’Driscoll comes into the half-back line, Ian Maguire starts in midfield next to Aidan Walsh, Colm O’Driscoll lines out at wing-forward and Mark Collins at centre-forward, and Colm O’Neill and Donal Hodnett start at corner-forward.