LIMERICK’S quest to regain the Munster Senior Hurling Championship title will begin with a blockbuster tilt against Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this Sunday at 2pm (referee: James Owens, Wexford).
In a long sold-out glamour tie, it will be the 75th such Championship clash between these age-old rivals, with Cork out in front on 47 wins to Limerick’s 22, while there have been five drawn encounters, the most recent of which was in the Final last summer.
In a strange scenario, the Leesiders eventually won that last contest following a first ever penalty shoot-out at the Gaelic Grounds.
Only a few weeks back at the same venue, Limerick accounted for Cork to win the National League for a 15th occasion.
It built on an earlier League win by Limerick over the same opponents, and on the Munster League defeat of the Ben O’Connor’s side at the start of the season.
The merited achievement of the pennant competition success has been well parked by Shannonside manager John Kiely, whose burning ambition is to lead his troops in an another bold attempt to recapture the Mick Mackey (Munster) and Liam MacCarthy (All-Ireland) cups.
With Limerick on a bye, Cork withstood a late rally from All-Ireland kingpins Tipperary to record an impressive opening round win, 0-29 to 1-22, at Semple Stadium, Thurles, at the weekend.
Post-match, Cork manager O’Connor said: “The best team in the country for the last te10 years coming to town next weekend, league champions, they’re on a bit of form. So look, we know we’ll have to improve a lot from today, but we have a chance of doing that.”
“We’ll get back to work during the week and we’ll work on a few more bits and pieces and hopefully next Sunday we’ll get two points.”
Limerick’s starting selection, to be announced on Friday morning, is unlikely to be too dissimilar to the side that accounted for Cork in the League showdown on Easter Sunday.
For three-time All-Star goalkeeper Nickie Quaid it will mark a 45th Munster Championship appearance.