A 560 mile round trip awaits TJ Ryan and his Limerick hurling panel this Sunday at they face Antrim in the second round of the National hurling league.
The game, which throws in at 2pm on Sunday, will be a tough encounter for the Shannoansiders who themselves drew their first game in the league versus Waterford last weekend.
Once more Limerick will have to plan without their Kilmallock contingent, while Kevin Downes remains missing through injury.
The 2-16 to 0-22 draw with Waterford means that Limerick cannot afford another slip up in their remaining games. Their opponents this weekend came out the wrong side of a tight game themselves versus Wexford.
A late Harry Kehoe point for the ‘Yellow-Bellies’ put an end to an eight point comeback from the ‘Saffrons’ who had Paul Shiels, Ciaran Clarke and Neil McManus impress for them.
The last time these two sides met, was last February in the league when Limerick were victorious 3-26 to 0-12.
This weekend is expected to be a closer affair however, Antrim’s improvement in the interim has been vast, while a venue such as Ballycastle can be worth more than a point or two in the grander scheme of events.
Limerick’s next game after Sunday will be against Wexford, in Wexford Park, on Sunday March 8, with a 12.45pm throw in.
Limerick side that faced Waterford:
N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, S Hickey; D O’Grady, W McNamara, T Condon; C King, P Browne; N Moran, G O’Mahony, C Lynch; D Reidy, P Begley, A Breen.
Scorers for Limerick versus Waterford:
D Reidy 2-3 (2-0 pen, 0-3 frees), G O’Mahony 0-5, P Browne 0-4, R McCarthy, T Condon, C Lynch, A Breen 0-1 each.
Antrim team that faced Wexford:
ANTRIM: C O’Connell; R McCambridge, N McAuley, A Graffin (0-01); T McCann, C McKinley (0-01), M Bradley (0-01); N McManus (0-02), C Johnson; P Shiels (1-06, 0-06f), D McKernan (0-02), C McCann (0-01); C Clarke (1-04), PJ O’Connell (0-01), E McCloskey.
