SERIOUS National Hurling League contenders Limerick are confidently expected to pick up maximum points against relegation threatened Offaly at O’Connor Park, Tullamore, on Sunday (2pm, referee: Liam Gordon, Galway).
After an unexpected opening round loss at Waterford, the 14-time winners have since collected merited victories over both Kilkenny and Tipperary.
Another couple of points from the midlands would put the Shannonsiders in pole position for final qualification, with home outings to follow against fellow title challengers Cork and Galway.
Only the leading two teams from Division 1A will contest the decider on Easter Sunday (April 5).
At the weekend, Limerick swept aside All-Ireland Champions Tipperary at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
“There’s plenty of newer players, plenty of older players who want to get to a league final,” commented captain William O’Donoghue afterwards on the possibility of final qualification.
“We’ve Offaly next, and they’ve had some really good performances and that’s all I am worried about right now.”
Aidan O’Connor again led the scoring brigade (0-11), with other fine contributions too from Shane O’Brien (0-6) and Peter Casey (0-4).
O’Connor has now averaged a healthy 10 points a fixture in the pennant competition.
In all, a dozen players scored for the winners.
“Every team these days is going about work rate, and if you’re not giving work rate you aren’t going to win a game, and coming here to the back yard of the All-Ireland Champions there was no more of an incentive needed,” commented O’Connor on the runaway win in Thurles.
O’Connor’s dad, Joe, famously captained Limerick to a comeback League final victory against Tipperary at the Gaelic Grounds in 1992.
Another satisfactory note from Saturday evening for winning manager John Kiely was the safe return from injury of Kyle Hayes.
2026 marks the centenary of the inaugural League final, won by Cork.