Limerick stick to same formula

National Football League/Division Two: Limerick will start Sunday's National Football League Division Two final against Westmeath…

National Football League/Division Two: Limerick will start Sunday's National Football League Division Two final against Westmeath with the team that eased past Wexford in the semi-final.

Without any fresh injury concerns, manager Liam Kearns saw no reason to adjust the team.

"We're certainly happy to go with the same 15 that started the last day," said Kearns. Dual player Stephen Lucey, who appeared to have come back into contention for his place, was then ruled out again after suffering a broken finger while playing for the hurlers last weekend.

Limerick's sole defeat in their eight league games to date was, coincidentally, against Westmeath on March 2nd, when they went down by three points.

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"Well, I really don't think there will be much between the sides again," added Kearns. "A lot of it will come down to who gets the breaks on the day, but we're certainly giving ourselves every chance of winning it."

With the 30-year absence from Croke Park, Kearns was obviously eager for a test run of the new playing surface.

"Well, initially, we were offered a 20-minute run-out last Saturday, but we didn't think it was worth going to Dublin for 20 minutes. So we declined. What we're doing instead is going up early on Saturday and getting our 20 minutes later that evening, which should be fine."

Kearns said all members of the team, which will be captained by Muiris Gavin, have already been to the new Croke Park as spectators - with the exception of goalkeeper Séamus O'Donnell.

Tickets for Sunday's two finals will continue to be sold from the ticket office in Croke Park today and tomorrow (11 a.m.-6 p.m.), with match-day ticket sales available from outlets on Drumcondra Road (opposite Quinn's Pub) and on Mountjoy Square at the junction with Fitzgibbon St.

LIMERICK (SF v Westmeath): S O'Donnell; M O'Riordan, D Sheehy, T Stack; C Mullane, J Quane, D Reidy; J Stokes, J Galvin; S Lavin, M Gavin, S Kelly; C Fitzgerald, B Begley, M Reidy.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics