THERE is more than local pride at stake this Saturday night as Limerick face Clare. The winner of this weekend’s National Hurling League Division Two final will not only gain bragging rights, but they will also secure Division 1 hurling next season. A level both camps aspire to.
The game itself is being played in Ennis at 7pm on Saturday evening after Clare won a toss of a coin for home advantage. The Ennis venue is tight and has often been a hard place for Limerick to go to. Under Donal O’Grady however, Limerick will not fear anyone. The Shannonsiders are unbeaten in this season’s league, having already won in Ennis, 2-9 to 0-6 in February.
The win this season matters little according to Limerick manager O’Grady. “Clare will be a lot better from when we played them in February. They will have at least five players back that they did not have that day. They will be as strong as they can be” Indeed, with Clare being stronger and Limerick being the away side, the odds are stacked against the Treatymen.
“The game will be tough. Playing away from home is never easy. The home team always has an advantage. They train on the pitch, they know more about it than we will. The crowd is often bigger for the home team, but we need to look beyond that. We need to make sure that we are ready for the game and not to be worrying about anything else” added the Cork coach. With the league final coming at the end of an unbeaten run in the League, Limerick’s stock is high. Ideal preparation for the championship, one would think. O’Grady however is more focused.
“The league is the league in itself. It is an entity of its own. I have never looked beyond the next game with any team. The next game is the most important and that is how we will look at it. Yes this weekend’s game will be hard fought, but as long as we just give 100%, then we can do no more. Once everyone comes off of the field after giving 100%, we and the hurling people of Limerick can ask for no more”.
Limerick enter this weekend’s game with a full strength panel. The rigours of travelling to Antrim two weeks ago are still be suffered. That and a round of club games last weekend has seen some players pick up one or two niggling injuries. All are expected to be available for selection this Sunday, which is another positive for Limerick hurling.
Limerick’s opposition on Sunday are managed by former Clare hurler and Adare manager Ger ‘Sparrow’ O Loughlin. The sparrow will know all of Limerick’s hurlers inside and out from his days winning title after title with the West Limerick men.
With days to go to Limerick’s first chance of silverware since 2007 and with the sun shining, the county awaits the start of what could be a long and successful summer.
Please note, the Limerick versus Clare game is down for 6.30pm in Ennis and not 7 as previously stated in some media. (including our own)
