Hurlers return to Croker as footballers face Clare

IT’S ANOTHER double weekend for Limerick GAA, as the Limerick hurlers and footballers are in league action.
First up, on Saturday night in Croke Park, the hurlers take on Dublin in the National hurling league quarter final. That’s right, Limerick did not gain promotion from 1B, but they can still win the league itself.
Throw in for the game is at 5pm, with the game acting as a curtain raiser for Dublin and Derry in the National Football league at 7pm.
The last Allianz Hurling League clash between the counties was in 2013 when Dublin beat Limerick (1-16 to 1-15) in the 1B final, having lost by 1-21 to 1-15 in the group encounter.
Limerick could be boosted with the return of their Kilmallock contingent following their All Ireland Club final appearance on St Patrick’s Day.
With eight weeks to the championship, Limerick know that every opportunity to play competitive hurling should be grabbed at with both hands. Last season’s quarter final defeat to Galway knocked the confidence in the panel and repeat of that performance will not be acceptable this weekend.
Should Limerick win the quarter final on Saturday night, they will play the league semi final, against Cork or Wexford on Sunday April 19, with the final pencilled in for Sunday May 3.
Following the Limerick hurlers this weekend, the footballers will be in action against Clare on Sunday afternoon in Newcastlewest.
The game which throws in at 3pm, is both a relegation dogfight while also acting as a dress rehearsal for the Munster football championship clash between the two sides on May 23 in Ennis.
John Brudair’s men currently prop up the Division 3 table with two points from their five games. A sole victory over Sligo in round 1 has been followed by four defeats However, Clare, Louth and the aforementioned Sligo are all on 4 points, so Limerick know that a win this weekend is vital.
Elsewhere in the Division, Armagh and Fermanagh (both on nine points) are within one win of guaranteeing promotion. They lead Tipperary by three points so the Munster men have to beat Sligo if they are to retain any chance of being promoted.
Armagh and Louth clashed in Division 2 last year, finishing level. Fermanagh are away to a Wexford team that has won only one of five games. Fermanagh beat Wexford by 2-20 to 3-8 last year.