Limerick All-Ireland winners return to club championship action

SOME OF Limerick's All-Ireland stars are back in hurling action this week as the Lyons of Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship gets underway.

There is a quick turnaround for the likes of David Reidy and Nickie Quaid when their respectable clubs make their championship bow.

Four games are down for decision across the weekend. First up on Thursday evening is the clash of 2022 Intermediate champions Na Piarsaigh against Glenroe. That game takes place at 7pm in Hospital.

The Caherdavin side's second team are up at this grade for the first time after a superb season in 2022 with a win over Croagh-Kilfinny in the 2022 decider.

Glenroe had a disappointing year in 2022 and did not make the knockout stages. The south Limerick side won three, lost three and drew one of their seven games.

The second game of the weekend sees Bruff take on Cappamore in Caherconlish on Friday evening. Bruff will be without captain Seán Finn after he was ruled out for the season following a cruciate ligament injury that he picked up playing with Limerick in the Munster SHC.

Bruff would have been hoping to go one better this year having lost the 2022 final to Monaleen but the loss of Finn is a big blow to their chances.

However, they should take confidence from their junior b side winning the Munster title late last year.
Cappamore, on the other hand, will be expecting a much better campaign in 2023 having finished second bottom in the group last year.

The east Limerick outfit won just two of their seven games in 2022 and will fancy taking a scalp in their opening contest against a Bruff side without their star player.

The action continues on Sunday when Reidy's Dromin-Athlacca face Blackrock in Kilmallock. Dromin-Athlacca narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot in 2022 and will want to go one better this season.

Blackrock were relegated from senior in 2022 and face a year of uncertainty. They have been hit with the news that Jimmy Quilty will miss the season due to a cruciate ligament injury.

The final game of the weekend sees Quaid's Effin side up against Newcastle West in Ballyagran. Both sides reached the semi-final in 2022 and will be favourites to reach the same stage again this year.