Limerick and Waterford face off in McGrath Cup season opener tonight

THE RAY Dempsey Limerick era gets underway in Mick Neville Park this evening when the Treaty men face Waterford in the opening round of the 2023 McGrath Cup.

Dempsey has taken over as manager of the senior side after Billy Lee's six-year reign ended last August. The Mayo native has assembled a highly impressive back room team for his Limerick tenure. 

His coaches include former Kerry footballer Anthony Maher (Duagh, Kerry), former Limerick footballer Eoin Joy (Fr Caseys) and former Kerry minor football mentor Mark Fitzgerald (Kerins O'Rahillys, Kerry).

Team selectors will be Martin Barrett (Kiltane, Mayo), Mike Downey (Feohanagh-Castlemahon) and John Chawke (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), who will also take up the role of goalkeeping coach.

Limerick have named an experienced side for the game, with Kildimo-Pallaskenry's Cathal Downes the only debutant included in the starting lineup. Downes played Fitzgibbon Cup hurling for TUS Midwest in 2022 and is a former county U21 hurler. He has been brought into the panel on the back of some excellent club form in last year's Limerick Senior Football Championship.

Aaron O'Sullivan gets a rare start in goals behind a full-back line of David Connolly, Sean O'Dea and Gordon Brown. Barry Coleman, Brian Fanning and Colm McSweeney take up the half-back positions, while 2022 All-Star nominee Cian Sheehan and Cillian Fahy are picked in an experienced midfield.

Downes, Dara Noonan and Paul Maher are in the half-forward line, with Adrian Enright, Killian Ryan and Robbie Bourke in the inside line. 

Limerick face a Waterford side that are under the stewardship of Cork's Ephie Fitzgerald for a second year. Fitzgerald, a former Limerick coach under Maurice Horan in 2011, took the helm at the Deise in 2022 and will be looking to improve after a disappointing start to his tenure.

Waterford are likely to feature a more experimental side as Fitzgerald prepares for their Allianz Football League Division 4 opener against Leitrim later this month. Limerick open their Division 2 campaign with a trip to Derry on January 28.

Limerick last played Waterford in the McGrath Cup in 2020, earning a 2-10 to 0-10 victory in Dungarven. They last met in the Munster Championship a year later with Limerick coming out victorious on a 4-18 to 0-12 scoreline. 

The game at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale, has a 7pm throw in and the Limerick team is as follows.

1. Aaron O’Sullivan (Pallasgreen)

2. David Connolly (Adare)

3. Sean O'Dea (Kilteely-Dromkeen)

4. Gordon Brown (Na Piarsaigh)

5. Barry Coleman (Rathkeale)

6. Brian Fanning (Pallasgreen)

7. Colm McSweeney (Gerald Griffins)

8. Cian Sheehan (Newcastle West)

9. Cillian Fahy (Dromcollogher-Broadford)

10. Cathal Downes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)

11. Dara Noonan (Gerald Griffins)

12. Paul Maher (Adare)

13. Adrian Enright (Fr Casey’s)

14. Killian Ryan (Mungret-St Paul’s)

15. Robbie Bourke (Adare).

Substitutes: 

16. Donal O'Sullivan (Monaleen)

17. Tony McCarthy (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)

18. Iain Corbett (Newcastle West)

19. Diarmuid Kelly (Newcastle West)

20. Peter Nash (Kildimo-Pallaskenry)

21. Rudhan O'Connor (Newcastle West)

22. Brian Barry (Mungret/St Paul’s)

23. Michael Donovan (Galbally)

24. Eoin O'Shea (Monaleen)

25. Darragh Kennedy (Monaleen)

26. Jack Ryan (Dromcollogher-Broadford)