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HomeSportEnnis the venue for NHL Final

Ennis the venue for NHL Final

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FOLLOWING an agreement between County Boards to toss a coin for the venue of the final, the decision was taken to stage the National Hurling League Division 2 final at Cusack Park in Ennis on Saturday week, 30 April at 7pm.

The tie was set up last weekend as both Limerick and Clare finished off their league campaigns with high scoring wins. Limerick defeated Antrim 4-15 to 015 points, while Clare hammered Carlow 4-28 to 0-8.
From the start of the campaign it was always going to be Limerick versus Clare in the decider. That opinion was confounded by Limerick scoring 168 points in their seven games, while Clare scored a massive 196 points in their league encounters.
With Championship season just around the corner, Limerick and indeed Clare will be more than happy to lock horns in a title decider. The game itself, on a tight pitch, will be hard won. Ennis, as many Limerick teams know, is a hard place to go and get a result.
Limerick have done that this season already however. When the two sides met on the 13th of February. Limerick won on that day, 2-9 to 0-6.
On the back of being unbeaten and having already lowered ‘The Banner’ this season, Limerick will enter the contest as favourites. Donal O’Grady’s men are unbeaten this season and have been steadily improving week on week in the league.
Limerick have not won a national league title since 1997, when by coincidence, they collected the National League title in Ennis against Galway. This will be Limerick’s first ever Division 2 final.
Clare on the other hand, have first hand experience at this level. The Claremen lost out to Offaly at this very stage last season.
The winners of the game replace relegated Offaly in the top tier in 2012, while the game, being televised on TG4, will be refereed by James Mc Grath of Westmeath.

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