Once again the fear of defeat as much as the longing for victory is driving Limerick as they host Tipperary in this evening’s second Munster under-21 hurling semi-final.

The team features senior star Cian Lynch, who was part of the Limerick XV beaten by Dublin last Saturday.

It also features seven survivors from the the team that lost 2-20 to 1-14 to Clare in the Munster Under-21 quarter-final last year.

Managed by John Kiely, the Limerick side also features one of their senior footballers, Gearóid Hegarty, at left half back.

The seven survivors from last year are Mark O’Callaghan, Richie English, Diarmaid Byrnes (captain), Pat Ryan, David Dempsey, Kevin O’Brien and Lynch.

Tipperary boast a few senior stars of their own. Four of the team were part of Eamon O’Shea’s senior panel that won Munster final on Sunday: Michael Breen (full back), Ronan Maher (right half back), Barry Heffernan (centre back) and Bill Maher (midfield)

Maher, the Tipp captain, is one of four under- 21 dual players in manager TJ Connolly’s starting 15 (along with forwards Paul Shanahan, Colin O’Riordan and John McGrath).

O’Riordan is also set to feature for Tipp footballers as they host Tyrone in Saturday’s crunch qualifier.