Limerick primed for Waterford test in Munster senior hurling championship

THE LIMERICK senior hurlers return to action this Saturday when they take on Waterford in round three of the Munster senior hurling championship.

John Kiely's side, who played out a thrilling draw with Tipperary their opening round fixture, had a bye last weekend in the second round of Munster SHC games.

Limerick travel to Waterford this Saturday at 6pm to face ‘the Déise’ in Walsh Park. The game will be streamed live on GAA+.

Waterford produced an impressive display to secure a convincing eight-point, 2-23 to 0-21, victory over All-Ireland champions Clare at Walsh Park on last Sunday afternoon.

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Walsh Park has a capacity of 12,100 spectators. A number of Limerick supporters will face a scramble for tickets this week ahead of the big game.

Former Kilmallock manager Peter Queally is into his first year in charge of the Waterford senior hurlers. Waterford are aiming to defeat Limerick for the first time since 2011 in the Munster senior hurling championship. Nickie Quaid and Declan Hannon remain the only survivors from that Limerick side. 

Limerick have won their last eight championship games against Waterford.

Kiely has made two changes from the Tipperary game bringing Sean Finn and Dan Morrissey into the side. Barry Murphy and Colin Coughlan drop out from the Shannonsiders starting XV.  

Cathal O'Neill and Seamus Flanagan make their returns to the match-day squad after missing out on the Tipperary game. Meanwhile, Declan Hannon, Peter Casey and Barry Murphy have not been included in the Limerick 26 man panel to face Waterford. 

Waterford have made one change from their starting team that beat Clare last weekend for the visit of provincial champions Limerick. Kieran Bennett is replaced by Patrick Fitzgerald, of Ballygunner.

Cork lead the way in the Munster round robin standings on three points. Waterford sit in second place on two points, while Limerick, Clare and Tipperary are all level on one point.

Limerick: Nickie Quaid (Effin); Sean Finn (Bruff), Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh) ; Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Barry Nash (South Liberties); William O'Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), Adam English (Doon); Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick's), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), Tom Morrissey (Ahane) ; Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca)

Subs: Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West), Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown), Fergal O'Connor (Effin), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen), Darragh O'Donovan (Doon), Paddy O'Donovan (Effin), Cathal O'Neill (Crecora-Manister), Eddie Stokes (Doon). 

Waterford: Billy Nolan (Roanmore); Ian Kenny (Ballygunner), Conor Prunty (Abbeyside Ballinacourty), Iarlaith Daly (Lismore); Mark Fitzgerald (Passage), Tadhg de Búrca (Clashmore Kinsalebeg), Paddy Leavey (Ballygunner); Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan), Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater); Jack Prendergast (Lismore), Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart), Patrick Curran (Dungarvan); Kevin Mahony (Ballyguunner), Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner), Patrick Fitzgerald (Ballygunner). 

Subs: Shaun O’Brien (Le La Salle), Gavin Fives (Affane Cappoquin Tourin), Kieran Bennett (Ballysaggart), Tom Barron (Fourmilewater), Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart), Michael Kiely (Abbeyside Ballinacourty), Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion), Sean Walsh (Fourmilewater), Conor Sheahan (Ballygunner), Carthach Daly (Lismore), Pádraig Fitzgerald (Kilrossanty).