New-look Limerick hurling team confirmed for league clash with Cork

JOHN KIELY has named his team for Limerick's opening game of the Allianz Hurling League on Saturday.

Limerick begin their 2025 campaign with the February 1 trip to SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh for a clash with rivals Cork.

Limerick have selected a team that includes just seven of the side that started against The Rebels in the side's epic All-Ireland SHC semi-final last July.

Debutante Jason Gillane gets the nod to start in goals in the absence of the long term injured Nickie Quaid. The returning Shane Dowling is named as sub-goalkeeper.

There are a number of familiar faces in the defence - however in switches Kyle Hayes starts at centre back and Barry Murphy is selected at corner back.

New vice-captain William O'Donoghue is joined in midfield by Adam English.

It's a youthful attack - new captain Cian Lynch and Gearoid Hegarty joined by Aidan O'Connor, Shane O'Brien, Patrick O'Donovan and Donnacha Ó Dálaigh.

As well as Shane Dowling, it's a Limerick subs bench that includes regulars Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan and David Reidy.

Among those not involved in the matchday squad are Nickie Quaid, Mike Casey, Barry Nash, Declan Hannon, Darragh O'Donovan, Tom Morrissey and Peter Casey. 

After much debate this week about television coverage, the clash of the Munster hurling titans will be available to viewers across multiple platforms, with TG4’s live coverage beginning on the TG4 Player and TG4 App from 7:25pm on Saturday night, ahead of throw-in at 7:30pm.

TEAM: Jason Gillane (Patrickswell); Sean Finn (Bruff), Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Barry Murphy (Doon); Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown); Adam English (Doon), William O'Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh); Gearoid Hegarty (St Patricks), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown); Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), Patrick O'Donovan (Effin). Subs: Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh), Micheal Houlihan (Kilmallock), Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West), Darragh Langan (Monaleen), Fergal O'Connor (Effin), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca), Cian Scully (Dromin-Athlacca), Eddie Stokes (Doon).