There IS a temptation when previewing this weekend's Bus Eireann Fitzgibbon Cup in Limerick, hosted by Mary Immaculate College of Education, simply to substitute last year's. Three of the four semi-finalists are the same and like 12 months ago in UCC, Garda College and Waterford IT will meet in the second semi-final.

Both teams have largely the same line-ups as in 1997, as indeed have holders UCC who are chasing a third successive title. Their task will be harder than last year when DCU, on their first Fitzgibbon weekend, didn't have the resources to trouble the hosts at the Mardyke.

This year's newcomers, UCD, will be tougher nuts to crack, even if only on the intangible basis of tradition. "UCC would want to be careful about that match," according to Eugene McKenna, chairman of Waterford IT. "A lot of people don't give UCD a chance, but they've a great record against UCC. I've seen good UCC teams beaten by average UCD teams. When Cork were going for nine-in-a-row, it was UCD who stopped them."

McKenna's UCD counterpart, Jim Ryan, concurs. "I'm really looking forward to this," he says. "We love playing UCC. We'll be underdogs of course, but we were underdogs in 1993 when we beat them in the final."

For the Dublin college, the weekend is primarily seen as experience for a team that will remain substantially intact for next year's competition. "We'll be giving it a lash," says Ryan, "but the experience will be invaluable. None of our players have experienced a Fitzgibbon weekend and it will stand to them whatever happens."

Paul Ormonde (Tipperary), Noel Murphy (Offaly) and Rory Moore of Kilkenny are the biggest influences in a team that has been developing nicely without any major celebrity input.

Their task is a steep one. UCC have reported difficulties motivating the players, most of whom have at least one Fitzgibbon medal, but another analysis is that the team isn't as confident about their defence as they were last year - "they don't think they're invincible anymore," according to one opponent. Maybe so, but it's still an accomplished-looking unit.

Cork under-21 captain Dan Murphy is the pivot, although his form has been erratic, but beside him Waterford's Mark O'Sullivan has been a re-assuring presence, moving into Murphy's position to shore up the defence against CIT in the quarter-final.

Nonetheless, the main factor to bear in mind about UCC is their awesome attack. When the possibility of ennui is broached, it's generally the forwards that come to mind. All but one of last year's unit remain and with Joe Deane winning an All-Ireland under-21 and Seanie McGrath becoming big box office in last June's championship match against All-Ireland champions Clare, the suspicion that the Fitzgibbon is no longer a major priority springs to mind.

Conversely the team has now reached the final weekend, well-experienced and with the precious asset of a quality forward unit; as well as Deane and McGrath, Eddie and Johnny Enright from Tipperary are still there. Their collective capacity to put up scores is daunting.

The second semi-final re-unites Garda College and WIT. Last year's semi-final was spoiled by incessant rain, but was decided by only a point. This year the Templemore college has come through a hard draw. Victories over UCG and a fancied UL have brought them to Limerick - although at a cost as Niall O'Donnell is suspended following a sending-off in the quarter-final.

Clare's Ollie Baker is again on the team and has greatly raised his performance compared to last year when he wasn't always fully fit and, according to Clare manager Ger Loughnane, took time to adjust to the regimen of the force. Damien Cleere of Kilkenny continues to be a scoring machine.

Winners of the Freshers' competition for the third year running, Waterford have an organically grown team, with Tipperary's Andy Moloney in excellent form and Kilkenny minor star Henry Shefflin in high-scoring mode. One problem they face is the likely weather conditions.

Like UCC, WIT would far prefer a dry day and as fast a sod as possible. In the wet, Garda College would have the physical maturity to back up their undoubted hurling. On that basis, they get a narrow vote to reach the final, a re-run of last year's with UCC.

The holders have the forwards to turn any game and assuming - as we will - that there's one last charge in the team, they can achieve the three-in-a-row for the first time since Michael O'Brien's legendary tenure was nearly halfway to eight successive titles in the 1980s.