SO, the moment of truth has arrived for the two teams. Will Wexford's exuberance overcome Limerick's pragmatism? That is the question which, increasingly, is being asked and, as the final one of the most interesting in years draws ever nearer, it is one which is also worrying many Limerick people.

As a Limerickman, I'm particularly conscious of the mood change. The closer one gets to the final, the more doubts appear to be creeping in. Limerick people don't know how to call this one. The confidence which existed before the Antrim match has definitely waned.

Should we read so much into one match? I think we possibly should. It wasn't a convincing performance, especially in attack. I'm sure Limerick have concentrated on improving the attack, working on the forwards, since that match, but sometimes when you put so much emphasis on one sector, You lose out elsewhere.

Limerick's forwards played as individuals against Antrim and you just can't do that especially in an All Ireland final against a team like Wexford who have successfully changed their style and play as a unit. I have nothing against individual flair, but not if it is against the betterment of the team.

Wexford just like Limerick - have come through a hard campaign. Nobody expected them to beat Kilkenny. Yet, with sheer determination, guts and fitness they did. That was a huge win for them. In their next match against Dublin, it was understandable that they dropped their level somewhat. However in the Leinster final, they produced a purple patch in the second half against us (Offaly) which any team would find hard to live with.

Indeed, their performances in the Leinster final and then in the All Ireland semi final with Galway provided proof that Liam Griffin has succeeded in changing the team's style. He worked and worked and worked at it, but he has made a unit out of Wexford. Every player plays for everyone else, which is very important.

How will the hype affect the teams? It can work one of two ways: either it will be very positive and help a team or it could work the other way and players might freeze under the pressure. Wexford appear to be on cloud nine, however, and sometimes that works. They are definitely on a roll. We'll know tomorrow which way they react.

In Limerick's case, it is noticeable that the hype and expectation around the county is a lot lower than in 1994, which is a deliberate ploy on Tom Ryan's part. He has focused the team on the job at hand, with no distractions, and I feel that will be to their benefit.

That question of Wexford's exuberance and Limerick's pragmatism, however, repeatedly surfaces. I've no doubts that the two teams will literally die out on the Croke Park pitch and give their all for the 70 minutes. Both teams are very fit.

But the Croke Park pitch is different to Thurles or Limerick. It has a peaty soil no real spring and it is inclined to sap the strength out of legs, to drain them. Whoever does the less running for the first 50 minutes or so could have a decided edge heading into the crucial last stage.

And I honestly feel it could very well go down to the last puck of the game.

There are three main areas where the match could be won or lost. First, how will Ciaran Carey handle Martin Storey? Second, how will Mark Foley cope with Rory McCarthy? Rory is an excellent hurler. He's done really well with the under 21s and is a young lad who comes and goes about his business without a care in the world. Third, which way will the duel between Gary Kirby and Liam Dunne go?

It is hard to know just what way these particular battles will go. I'm afraid it is back to the old cliche, "it is down to the performance on the day." And no one can prejudge those.

Tomorrow is All Ireland final day, however, and it is the performance on which everyone will be judged. You might have played five great games in the run up, but all anyone remembers, really, is how you played for the 70 minutes of the final. That's the way it is.

I know I've experienced some creeping doubts about Limerick, based mainly on the Antrim performance, but I feel I have to stick with them to win. As I said earlier, though, it could very well come down to the last puck unless one of them collapses under the pressure. I don't envisage that happening.