THERE’S a rapid-fire turnaround for Limerick in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship with a short trip out to a sold-out (18,500) Cusack Park, Ennis, on Sunday (2pm) for a clash with neighbours, Clare.
Referee for the tilt will be Michael Kennedy of Tipperary.
It comes on the back of the slender loss by the plucky Shannonsiders – who were forced down the home stretch with just 14 players following the red card shown to captain Cian Lynch – to arch-rivals Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Limerick and Clare didn’t meet in the 2026 National League because the Banner were in a lower division, from which promotion was secured, than the eventual top-tier winners.
In the pre-season Munster League, Clare accounted for Limerick, who later won the competition outright by a couple of points in Tulla.
Last season, the Shannonsiders were easy C’ship winners over Clare at the Gaelic Grounds but only squeezed past this opposition in the competition at the fortress that is Ennis a year earlier.
A fortnight ago, Brian Lohan’s side accounted for Waterford at home, but the boss will have concerns about a shaky defence in that outing, one that conceded four goals. No doubt, the likes of Clare defenders Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary and Adam Hogan will have worked on such leakage ahead of the imminent arrival of Peter Casey, Shane O’Brien and David Reidy.
A win for Limerick is of paramount importance, even with the ‘luxury’ of a couple of back-to-back home fixtures against brave Waterford (May 17) and All-Ireland champions Tipperary (May 24) at the Ennis Road venue.
Limerick manager John Kiely will announce his starting selection, one that will not feature two past Player of the Year recipients, in Aaron Gillane (injured) and Lynch (suspension), but is likely to include Tom Morrissey and Darragh O’Donovan, on social on Friday morning.