FOR the first time since the breakthrough All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship triumph of 2018, Limerick will engage in pursuit of the Liam MacCarthy Cup via the scenic route.
Seven years ago, the Shannonsiders finished third in Munster but progressed through to then beat Carlow, Kilkenny, Cork, and ultimately Galway.
Now, as runners-up in the province, Limerick have a quarter-final date with Dublin at Croke Park this Saturday at 4pm (referee: Liam Gordon, Galway).
The winners here will be out against six-in-a-row Leinster Champions Kilkenny at the same venue a fortnight later.
Dublin, who came third in Leinster, were comfortable weekend masters of Joe McDonagh Cup winners Kildare, 3-25 to 0-13, at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge.
Opening-half goals from Ronan Hayes and 21-year-old Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing laid the platform for Dublin’s 21-point win, with Fergal Whitley adding a third goal near the end.
Seán Currie (0-8) top scored for the Dubs.
Former All-Star Danny Sutcliffe and Donal Burke were notable injury absentees for Dublin, but the pair could feature against Limerick.
It’s anticipated that refreshed Limerick will account for Dublin and then tackle Kilkenny.
However, Limerick captain Cian Lynch cautioned: “That’s something that’s way beyond our thought process. I think next Saturday is our main focus.”
In the last championship meeting between the pair, Dublin surprised Limerick, 1-17 to 1-6 , in Thurles back in 2015.
Limerick were given a few days off after the heart-wrenching Munster final loss to Cork, in the wake of which boss John Kiely said: “I have no doubt the men in that dressing room will regroup, dust themselves down, and will really want to push forward now and be the very best that they can be in the remainder of this championship.”
Limerick/Dublin is the curtain-raiser to Cork/Dublin in an attractive preliminary All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final.
Saturday’s other quarter-final is between Galway and Tipperary at the Gaelic Grounds (6pm), the victors of which will meet Cork in the semi.
