Six Limerick teams in action as inter-county GAA season reaches fever pitch

LIMERICK GAA's inter-county season kicks into overdrive this week with no fewer than six teams in provincial action over the next seven days.

The senior hurlers take centre stage next Sunday when they get the defence of their Munster and All-Ireland titles underway with a trip to Thurles where they take on Waterford in the first round of the round robin.

The previous night, Limerick's senior footballers make their championship bow in the Munster SFC at the TUS Gaelic Grounds against Clare.

Mark's Fitzgerald's side are in with a chance of reaching a second successive Munster Final against a Clare side that will be full of confidence after beating Cork in the quarter-final.

Limerick's minor hurlers, footballers, U20 hurlers and U20 footballers are also play in their respective championships across the next five days.

John Kiely's hurlers head into the Waterford game following on from their Allianz Hurling League win a week ago. The Limerick manager has a number of selection headaches given the current form of his panel.

Declan Hannon (flu), Kyle Hayes (injury) and William O'Donoghue (suspension) all missed the win over Kilkenny but are expected to be available for the Deise fixture on Sunday. David Reidy and Jimmy Quilty are the only two players unlikely to be part of Kiely's plans due to persistant injury issues.

Kiely is excited to get back into provincial action and expects this year's campaign to be as close as its ever been. "The Munster Championship is a very special competition,” said the Limerick manager in the build up to the Waterford game.

"We all have great memories throughout our lives of going to matches as kids. Being stuck in big crowds and literally clinging onto your father's jacket as you are going along.

"I think this particular year promises to be a really competitive competition. There are five really strong teams in there now. On any given day those sides are capable of beating each other. I think we are going to have a real humdinger of a Munster Championship."

The U20 footballers get the busy week underway this Monday evening when they head to Páirc Uí Chaoimh to take on Cork in the Munster semi-final. Shane Kelly's side beat Waterford last week to reach this stage but are major underdogs heading into the fixture.

Evan Loftus' minor hurling side return from a three-week break without a fixture on Tuesday when they take on Tipperary at Semple Stadium in Thurles. Limerick go into the game defending a 100% record following victories over Waterford and Clare from their two games to date.

John Ryan will be hoping for a response from his minor football side when they make the trek to play Clare in Miltown-Malbay on Thursday evening. They lost their opening Munster MFC to Tipperary by seven points.

The U20 hurlers also return to action on Friday, facing Tipperary in Thurles. They have a win and a draw from their two games and Diarmuid Mullins will be hopeful of an improvement from their draw with Clare last time out.

The senior footballers take centre stage on Saturday with a provincial final in the offing against the Banner at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.