IT'S FUNNY how quickly a team's expectations can plummet. Twelve months ago Limerick were contesting a Munster final and last September they were 70 minutes from the holy grail.

That was a long 70 minutes, however, and they have since slipped back into the peloton, their progression to last season's All-Ireland final now just a fond memory.

Fast forward to the present and after a calamitous defensive collapse against Clare, All Star goalkeeper Brian Murray will be keen to keep a clean sheet.

With a full deck to hand for the first time since he became Limerick manager, Richie Bennis will expect the returning Brian Geary, Donie Ryan and Wayne McNamara to make big impacts.

Offaly make five changes to the side heavily defeated by Kilkenny. Kevin Brady, Shane Dooley, Joe Brady, Joe Bergin and Daniel Currams, none of whom started in that Leinster semi-final, are back at the expense of James Rigney, Conor Mahon, Paul Cleary, Ger Healion and Dylan Hayden.

LIMERICK:B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, S Hickey; M O'Riordan, B Geary, M Foley; D O'Grady, W McNamara; M O'Brien, O Moran, N Moran; A O'Shaughnessy, S O'Connor, D Ryan.

OFFALY:B Mullins; D Franks, D Kenny, M Verney; K Brady, G Oakley, D Horan; B Murphy, R Hanniffy; S Dooley, J Brady, D Molloy; B Carroll, J Bergin, D Currams.