Munster SHC Final Limerick v Waterford: Gavin Cummiskeyfinds hurler of the month Ollie Moran fully focused on the final showdown with Waterford

"Sport isn't broken into social categories maybe the way it is in other cities." So says Ollie Moran. Hurler extraordinaire. So many Irish sporting breakthroughs of this generation seem to have occurred or at least emanated from the city of Limerick.

Ever been to a European Cup match in Thomond Park? Or maybe the famous Lansdowne Road semi-final of 2006 when the visitors not only infiltrated the Leinster section but painted it red.

Then there was Cardiff on May 20th, 2006. With a few minutes left on the clock, as Munster's date with destiny hung in the balance, a stereotypical "cute hoor" had the good sense to ensure the thousands of Limerick supporters on O'Connell Street were blazed across the big screen of the Millennium Stadium. Those present at European rugby's showcase event exploded at the spectacle. The French were disgusted. The Limerick crowd duly reacted to the sight of themselves. It was like being caught in a tunnel of hysteria.

Ever wonder what these Munster rugby fans do during the summer months? You could taste that feeling during the recent hurling extravaganza played out over three games between Limerick and Tipperary.

The Limerick faithful have been waiting since 2001 to vent their passion for the green jersey of home. "Particularly the last 10 minutes of the Tipp game in Thurles," says Moran. "The crowd were huge. Munster often talk about the 16th man and maybe that's a reflection of Limerick people. The passion. Be it rugby or hurling."

It makes sense that the hurlers tap into this natural sporting fever evident in the Limerick man, woman and child. "There is a huge crossover. If Limerick people aren't following rugby, they're going to follow soccer . . . people are passionate about sport. Sport isn't broken into social categories maybe the way it is in other cities. Even the rugby people in town, the soccer people in town, would wish you good luck. I suppose we do it for the rugby and soccer as well."

Moments after the second instalment of the Limerick v Tipperary trilogy - easily the highlight of the GAA season thus far - Moran was asked to do an interview. His jaded response was entirely understandable: "Give us a minute to take a shower." Man, did he deserve it after playing such a significant role in Limerick's now legendary reversal of a 10-point deficit that forced a second replay back at the Gaelic Grounds and ultimately his team's progression to a first provincial final in six years.

A defender by trade, Moran started anonymously before producing an immense final 10 minutes from centre and then full forward.

He wasn't bothered for the interview that day as there was a good chance the media would have a more intimate audience with the Limerick veteran a few weeks later. Considering he was the stand-out player over the three-match series, Moran's selection as both the GPA and Vodafone hurler of the month for June was a foregone conclusion.

He came to Dublin yesterday to accept his GPA award; today is the Vodafone presentation (by the way, that typically GAA schism looks set to continue).

With Waterford the red-hot favourites this Sunday, back in Thurles, a critical perspective of the masterful Tipperary and Limerick duel must now be adopted.

"We've only won one game. It has to be put in context. One game in six years is hardly a return for any intercounty team."

If Limerick were to start as poorly as they did in the first replay would they survive a backlash from the league champions and slayers of Cork?

"Probably not, no. Tipp in fairness they got a purple patch in the first half of the second game. They punished us and maybe if that was Waterford they could have put away another six points on top of the 10 Tipp put on us.

"We've been in that position before with Waterford. You take your eye off the ball and drop your intensity and they punish you. That's what makes them so good. They've a lot of big strike men who just need that half yard of space and it's trouble."

Time to plot future chapters in Limerick's sporting annals.