Head to Head: Nicky English's view Brian Begley v Noel Hickey"Begley has proved to be very important to Limerick throughout the championship - much like he was during the under-21 All-Ireland years.
His dominance under the high ball means his half backs always know the odds are in their favour if they punch it long. He dominated the square in both of their games against Waterford - a fact not highlighted in the Munster final because he failed to score. Donie Ryan and Andrew O'Shaughnessy feed off his breaks.
We would have heard more of him, and therefore Limerick, if not for an injury-ravaged career but, like so many of his team-mates, it has all come good in 2007.
One weakness is his mobility and this will be highlighted if the supply of ball is poor, or too low, and it will be a huge advantage to Hickey.
If any doubts lingered about the Kilkenny full back's prowess under high balls or in the physical stakes they dissolved after last year's All-Ireland final. He always seems to produce a steady performance, brought about by years of experience and he can hurl off his left or right.
While Hickey possesses more hurling ability, a lot will depend on the type of delivery that comes into Begley. Long, direct ball will cause Hickey problems but if it comes in short he will dominate."
Numbers game
The frequently mentioned achievement of Limerick in winning the under-21 All-Ireland in three successive years, 2000-02, is a rare one but one that had previously been followed by senior success.
Curiously the other similar feats also took place at the turn of decades. Cork went one better with a four-in-a-row before going on to win a senior three-in-a-row in 1976-78.
Tipperary put together a sequence of three 1979-81 but had to wait longer for senior success, as it was another eight and 10 years before the county regained the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 1989 and '91.
This Sunday Limerick have seven starters from those three teams but Tipperary had only five when they won the senior All-Ireland in 1989. Cork got a better return out of their multiple victories with eight of the 1976 team having won medals at under-21.
The grade has also been rewarding for the current Kilkenny team even if the county has failed to put together a triple sequence. In fact at least 10 of the champions' likely starting 15 have under-21 medals with county having been successful in 1999, 2003, '04 and last year.
Did you know?
Limerick are seeking to emulate Offaly (1998) and Cork (2004) who both won the All-Ireland after losing their provincial finals.
Odds on a draw
The last All-Ireland final to finish all square was between Kilkenny and Waterford in 1959 (5-5 to 1-17). Waterford won the replay 3-12 to 1-10.
You can get odds of 12 to 1 on a draw from Paddy Power for Sunday. Kilkenny are 2 to 9 for the win with Limerick a far more tasty option at 7 to 2 and 10 to 11 with a six-point head start on the handicap market.
Other winning margins: 7/2 Kilkenny 1-3 pts, 5/2 Kilkenny 4-6 pts, 10/3 Kilkenny 7-9 pts, 11/2 Kilkenny 10-12 pts, 8/1 Kilkenny 13-15 pts, 10/1 Kilkenny 16 pts or more, 6/1 Limerick 1-3 pts, 10/1 Limerick 4-6 pts, 28/1 Limerick 7-9 pts, 50/1 Limerick 10-12 pts, 125/1 Limerick 13-15 pts, 150/1 Limerick 16 pts or more.
