Crunch time for Limerick's senior hurlers as All-Ireland semi-final looms

LIMERICK face into a crucial All-Ireland hurling semi-final this Saturday in Croke Park when they face Henry Shefflin's Galway in their last four clash.

John Kiely's Limerick side have had a four-week lead in to the fixture at GAA headquarters, while the Tribesmen saw off Tipperary in their quarter-final at the TUS Gaelic Grounds a week ago.

Limerick are odds on to reach a fourth All-Ireland final in a row but they face a Galway outfit that would have taken great confidence from their performance against Tipperary.

The biggest selection headache for Kiely and his management team surrounds the centre back position after Declan Hannon was ruled out due to a knee injury picked up against Clare in the Munster final.

Dan Morrissey and Kyle Hayes are the likely contenders to fill the void left by Hannon, with Richie English and Colin Coughlan on standby to come into the starting lineup if either moves from their current position.

Elsewhere, Cian Lynch could come back into the reckoning for a starting spot if he has fully recovered from the ailments that saw him on the substitutes’ bench for both the Cork Munster round robin tie and for the provincial final win over Clare.

Ahead of the game, Kiely said that the four-week lead in to Saturday's game was ‘a great opportunity’.

“We managed the four weeks last year and we have done it in the past. We know our routine. It's nailed down.
“Everybody knows what to expect in that dressing room before I go in and say it. They knew exactly what's going to happen this week, the week after that and the week after that.

“We know our routine. We are a team that works according to our routines. It's not an issue for us. Yes, it's an opportunity for us to recharge.

“It's an opportunity for a few guys to get a few little bits and pieces together in terms of their own preparation, individually in terms of fitness levels, injuries and knocks. To just take a break.

“It was a really tough Munster Championship. Every team brought their absolute best performance against us every time we went out.

“I think that we have shown an amazing amount of resilience, hunger and appetite. That was questioned but it is most certainly still there,” said Kiely ahead of Saturday's All-Ireland semi-final.