Limerick hurlers look to home comforts as Clare come to town

LIMERICK’S senior hurlers make their first appearance at the TUS Gaelic Grounds this year when they welcome near neighbours Clare in round two of the Allianz Hurling League this evening.

John Kiely’s men will be looking to get back on track after losing their opening game to Cork. Clare come to town after a comprehensive win over Westmeath at Cusack Park in their opening league game.

Two goals from UL’s Mark Rodgers helped Brian Lohan’s Clare side to a facile 25-point win over Westmeath. A strong crowd is expected at the Ennis Road venue for a fixture that has delivered time and time again in recent years.

You only have to look back at the 2022 Munster Final epic as the most recent example of Limerick and Clare’s rivalry.

Limerick come into Saturday with one major injury worry. Declan Hannon was forced off with what John Kiely described as a ‘nasty cut to his finger’ and is a doubt for the game.

John Kiely will also be hoping that Adam English, Cathal O’Neill and Colin Coughlan come through UL’s Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final with UCD on Thursday unscathed.

English has played no part in the Limerick college’s Fitzgibbon campaign to date but made his return from injury against Cork, scoring 0-2 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

The sides played out a 0-18 to 0-18 draw when they met in the 2022 league with David Reidy landing a free to get the draw. Then came the sensational battle in the Munster Final in Thurles last June.

On that day, Limerick came out with a 1-29 to 0-29 victory over the Banner. Seamus Flanagan scored eight points from play in a stunning performance.

Limerick versus Clare has a 7pm throw-in and is live on RTE.