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The Irish bars of East London had the Manchester United v Reading match on in one corner and the Waterford v Limerick All-Ireland semi-final on the other television.

Those drinkers who agonised over which game to watch were soon left in no doubt as Donie Ryan and Andrew Shaughnessy powered Limerick into the lead. Ryan’s goal was a superb combination of pace and power while Shaughnessy’s points were deliciously skilful.

This was Waterford’s fourth big game in a month and they looked tired at the start of the match with their much-lauded half-backs getting the runaround from the fast Limerick forwards.

Fifteen minutes into the game the Treatymen were 10 points up with Shaughnessy hitting their second goal to leave the score 2-6 to 0-2.

It was panic stations for Waterford but a high ball to the edge of the square and Stephen Mulomphy fired to the net to give the Deise men some hope.

Points from Ken McGrath and Dan Shanahan meant there were just four points between the sides at half-time with the Treatymen 2-9 to 1-8 ahead.

Justin McCarthy’s men had acquired a reputation this year for being a second-half team but the long season looked to have caught up with them in the second period of this match.

Ryan’s second goal and a pair of points from Brian Begley stretched Limerick’s lead further.

But just as the Limerick fans in the pubs of East London were wondering where they were going to get tickets for the All-Ireland final Waterford hit back once again with an Eoin McGrath goal leaving them just three points behind in the closing minutes.

Brian Begley’s penalty restored a five-point lead for Limerick but Waterford replied once again with a superb long range point from Tony Browne.

But the hurling gods which had seemed to side with Waterford all year decided to rest on Sunday for just as the Deise men narrowed the gap to two points Andrew Shaughnessy took his personal tally to 2-6 with a smartly-taken late goal.

So it was left to the Limerick people resident in East London and all over Britain to sing: “Limerick You’re A Lady” while for manager Richie Bennis and his players the showdown with Kilkenny offers the chance for Limerick to end an All-Ireland drought dating back to their last title success in 1973.