After 34 provincial, qualifier and All-Ireland games, the 2007 Guinness hurling championship is down to the final two following Limerick's dramatic win over Waterford in the second semi-final last Sunday which set up a first Kilkenny v Limerick All-Ireland final since 1974. Limerick's five-point win (5-11 to 2-15) over the reigning Munster champions booked a final date with defending champions, Kilkenny on September 2nd in what should be a fitting finale to what has been an outstanding campaign. It will be Limerick’s first appearance in the final since 1996, where they lost to Wexford while Kilkenny will be playing in their 8th final in ten seasons. The only two they missed out on were in 2001 and 2005 when they lost semi-finals to Galway. Limerick will be seeking their first All-Ireland win since 1973 when, ironically, they beat Kilkenny. They also faced Kilkenny in the 1974 final but were beaten by twelve points. Limerick's win over Waterford was fashioned in the most exciting circumstances as they hit 5-11 in a scoring blitz that proved too much for Waterford, who had beaten them by nine points in the Munster final. It was a glorious day for Limerick corner-forward Andrew O'Shaughnessy who scored 2-7 to take his total for the championship to 2-39 from six matches. Donie Ryan hit two goals for Limerick to take his championship total to 3-2. It was heart-breaking for Waterford who lost their fifth All-Ireland semi-final in ten seasons, having also been beaten in 1998 (Kilkenny), 2002 (Clare), 2004 (Kilkenny), 2006 (Cork). GUINNESS HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP 2007 LEINSTER May 27: Quarter-final: Offaly 1-26 Laois 0-10, Tullamore. June 9: Semi-final: Wexford 2-14 Dublin 3-10, Nowlan Park June 10: Semi-final: Kilkenny 1-27 Offaly 1-13, Portlaoise. July 1: Final: Kilkenny 2-24 Wexford 1-12, Croke Park. MUNSTER May 27: Quarter-final: Cork 1-18 Clare 1-11, Thurles. June 10: Semi-final: Limerick 1-19 Tipperary 1-19, Gaelic Grounds. June 16: Semi-final (replay): Limerick 1-24 Tipperary 2-21, Thurles (after extra-time) June 17: Semi-final: Waterford 5-15 Cork 3-18, Thurles. June 24: Semi-final (2nd replay): Limerick 0-22 Tipperary 2-13, Gaelic Grounds (after extra-time). July 8: Final: Waterford 3-17 Limerick 1-14, Thurles. ULSTER May 13: Quarter-final: Derry 1-14 Armagh 0-16 Casement Park; Semi-final: Antrim 4-16 London 3-8, Casement Park. May 20: Semi-final: Down 1-13 Derry 0-16, Casement Park. May 26: Semi-final (replay) Down 5-16 Derry 1-15, Casement Park June 3: Final: Antrim 2-24 Down 0-4, Casement Park. ALL-IRELAND QUALIFIERS June 30: Group 1A: Clare 3-21 Antrim 2-15, Casement Park; Galway 3-20 Laois 1-14, Portlaoise. Group 1B: Cork 3-20 Dublin 0-15, Parnell Park; Tipperary 2-17 Offaly 2-13, Thurles. July 7: Group 1A: Clare 2-10 Galway 0-14, Ennis; Antrim 1-23 Laois 1-13, Casement Park. Group 1B: Cork 1-27 Offaly 0-11, Pairc Ui Chaoimh; Tipperary 1-20 Dublin 1-11, Parnell Park. July 14: Group 1A: Galway 2-31 Antrim 1-9, Pearse Stadium; Clare 2-14 Laois 1-11, Portlaoise. Group 1B: Offaly 2-25 Dublin 2-13, Tullamore; Tipperary 2-16 Cork 1-18, Thurles. ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONSHIPS July 28: Quarter-finals: Wexford 3-10 Tipperary 1-14; Kilkenny 3-22 Galway 1-18 (Both in Croke Park) July 29: Quarter-finals: Limerick 1-23 Clare 1-16; Cork 3-16 Waterford 1-13 (Both in Croke Park) August 5: All-Ireland semi-final: Kilkenny 0-23 Wexford 1-10; Quarter-final replay: Waterford 2-17 Cork 0-20 (Both in Croke Park). August 12: All-Ireland semi-final: Limerick 5-11 Waterford 2-15. September 2: All-Ireland final: Kilkenny v Limerick, Croke Park. Tweet

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