IT MAY be just as well that yesterday was a bank holiday. The amount of absenteeism in Wexford and Limerick, which would have been guaranteed in other circumstances, will not be shown in official statistics, although there may still have been some lack of concentration among workers in offices, factories and on farms this morning.

Now the county panels will get down to the serious business of preparing for what is only their second meeting in an All Ireland decider.

The score in that match was Wexford 7-0, Limerick 6-2, with the venue given as Jones' Road. The scoreline illustrates graphically how hurling has changed in the 86 years which have passed.

Clearly, with 13 goals compared to only two points, the game was then played very much on the ground. It would certainly be a surprise if a team which scored six goals were to lose a match nowadays, albeit by a single point.

Of course, at the time counties were represented by their club champions Castlebridge represented Wexford, and Castleconnell lined out for Limerick. The match was played on November 20th and the teams had 17 players a side.

Supporters of Wexford and Limerick will have some weeks to consider their strategies for this year's final and, no doubt, criticise any perceived weaknesses. But Galway will rue many aspects of their semifinal.

Ant rim will take some credit for yet another plucky performance against Limerick, but Galway will regard their defeat by Wexford as an opportunity missed. In the immediate aftermath of Sunday's defeat many Galway supporters, a breed never slow to criticise their own, will point to the huge number of wides.

Questions were also being asked as to why Joe Rabbitte was left on the field so long after it was clear that he was scarcely able to break into a trot. Joe Cooney, too, might have been withdrawn earlier after a couple of heavy knocks, which partially explains one totally uncharacteristic miss towards the end.

But Wexford supporters will have heir worries about the final. The decision to take Eamon Scallan off after only 20 minutes was a surprise, particularly given that he is such a dependable free taker. It is also generally accepted these days that George O'Connor is not likely to be called up except for a short stint, and that running role no longer suits him.

The good news is that John O'Connor, in the wars again, will be fit to play in the final, and that other knocks and bruises in what was quite a physical match will also have healed.

The news from the Limerick front was that supporters were flocking back home from early yesterday afternoon having over nighted in Dublin - and some places in between. Some of the less sanguine followers were pointing out that Limerick have a poor record in All Ireland finals in recent years.

Having beaten Kilkenny in 1973, they were overcome by the same team the following year. Their next final appearance was in 1980, when Galway made their spectacular breakthrough. Then came the extraordinary collapse against Offaly in 1994.

But Wexford's appearances in finals have not been that good either, having lost back to back finals in 1976 and 1977 on both occasions to Cork.

One aspect of the three matches at Croke Park on Sunday which was interesting or even intriguing was the length of the grass on the pitch. It seemed that the pitch, which in fairness looked immaculate, had been shaved too closely and that, given the firm sod, lifting the ball while travelling at speed was a bit of a problem for the players. Frequently players failed to raise the ball first time, or on occasion had to make three stabs at it to produce the desired result.

This was vividly illustrated when even the usually flawless Gary Kirby failed to raise the ball when taking a free for Limerick. Given unpredictable weather, it is difficult to gauge precisely how long the grass should be, particularly when three matches are to be played on the same day. But another half an inch on this occasion would certainly have made for more free flowing hurling.

Meanwhile, attention now switches back to football with Sunday's attractive Mayo Kerry clash and an unusual pairing of Meath and Tyrone the following week.

Mayo supporters were pleased to learn Kerry would be their semi final opponents. They would not have relished a clash with Cork, against whom they have a rather poor record, although they have seldom met.

But they have a poor record against Kerry in the championship as well. Mayo lost four times to Kerry between 1929 and 1939 - three times in the semi final, and in the final of 1932.

Mayo broke that sequence in 1948, when they beat Kerry in the semi final, and at the same stage again in 1951 before going on to win the final. Since then Kerry have won two meetings between the two in the championship, in 1969 and 1981. Nevertheless Mayo folk welcome what they refer to as "A crack at the Kingdom".

There is some concern in the Mayo camp about the fitness of their young midfielder David Brady. He suffered a calf muscle injury in training last week and has been unable to train since. Intensive treatment, however, is expected to get him into shape in time. Otherwise, reports from the camp suggest they'll field an unchanged team.