Limerick hurlers set for season opening clash with Clare at 'sold out' Clarecastle

LIMERICK'S senior hurlers switch their attention to Clare and their Co-op Superstores Munster Hurling League in Clarecastle this Wednesday evening following a frustrating weekend.

John Kiely's men had been due to play Cork in Mallow on Sunday afternoon but the game was postponed due to heavy fog at the Cork venue. An alternate venue, namely Páirc Uí Rinn, was sought but a frozen pitch there ensured that the game would not go ahead as planned.

Clare are also yet to make an appearance in this year's pre-season competition as they are due to take on Cork this coming Sunday.

Both sides have an experimental feel about them with Kiely naming one debutant, Emmet McEvoy, for the Cork game. Seven other players were set for their inter-county senior debuts from the bench - namely Joe Fitzgerald, David Fitzgerald, Darragh Langan, Luke Flynn, Ethan Hurley, Mike Keane and Liam Lynch.

Following the postponement in Mallow, Limerick held an open training session in one of the back pitches where members of the public were free to see a rare behind the scenes look at the inner workings of a session led by Paul Kinnerk, if they could see through the fog.

The re-fixed game between Cork and Limerick is expected to take place either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week with the date due to be confirmed by Munster GAA.

Clare once again have Brian Lohan at the helm for the 2024 season and will be looking to go one better this year after losing at the Munster final and All-Ireland semi-final stage in 2023 and 2022. Limerick and Clare's game in Clarecastle is sold out and is the latest chapter in what has developed as one of the best rivalries in the GAA.

The game between Limerick and Clare has a 7pm start in Clarecastle on this Wednesday evening. See www.limerickleader.ie for report on Wednesday night.

The Limerick panel for the game is as follows:

LIMERICK: David McCarthy (Glenroe); Emmet McEvoy (Na Piarsaigh), Dan Morrissey (Ahane, Capt), Fergal O'Connor (Effin); Mark Quinlan (Garryspillane), Ronan Connolly (Adare), Ciarán Barry (Ahane); Barry Murphy (Doon), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown); Micheál Houlihan (Kilmallock), Paddy O'Donovan (Effin), Cathal O'Neill (Crecora-Manister); Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), Adam English (Doon).

Subs: Jamie Power (Monaleen), Aaron Costello (Kilmallock), Joe Fitzgerald (Monaleen), David Fitzgerald (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Luke Flynn (Granagh-Ballingarry), Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West), Mike Keane (Adare), Darragh Langan (Monaleen), Liam Lynch (Mungret St Paul's), Tom Morrissey (Ahane), Oisin O'Reilly (Kilmallock).