Clare first up for Limerick in Munster Senior Hurling League

THE LIMERICK senior hurlers get their 2026 season underway on Saturday at 2pm in Tulla GAA club when they take on Clare in the opening round of the Munster Senior Hurling League.

John Kiely and Paul Kinnerk enter their tenth season involved with the Limerick senior hurling panel. In December, Kiely's side took part in a senior hurling challenge match against Tipperary in aid of the Dillon Quirke foundation which Limerick were narrowly defeated by their Munster rivals.

Nine of this year's Limerick U20 panel featured for the Shannonsiders against Tipperary which included Fionn O'Brien, Sean Casey, Darragh Langan, James Coughlan, Fintan Fitzgerald, Robert O'Farrell, Matthew Fitzgerald, Dara Ferland and Hugh Flanagan.

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Meanwhile, Cathal O'Neill, Adam English, Colin Coughlan, Aidan O'Connor and Shane O'Brien were some of Limerick's more established players that featured in December against Tipperary.

Kiely confirmed that he will hope to give more younger players an opportunity throughout the upcoming Munster Senior Hurling League but also said that it will be difficult with thirteen players in his squad playing Fitzgibbon Cup hurling.

“A lot of these lads will still get time in the Munster League if we can. As I said, a lot of them are playing colleges, we have to balance the two, it's important that they get to play with their college in the Fitzgibbon Cup,” said Limerick senior hurling manager John Kiely.

“We are always very positive towards that competition, it's a great space for the lads to go as hurlers at that level and they are up against really top quality hurlers, we want them to enjoy the Fitzgibbon Cup experience so hopefully that will work out.”
On Wednesday January 7, the Limerick senior hurlers will host Cork in the TUS Gaelic Grounds at 7:35pm.

“We have two games in four days, it's a tight schedule, it will be a tight turnaround. I'm praying that the weather will play ball that we will be able to get out and play those games. It has been a challenge in the past to get them played in that week,” added Kiely.

“Fitzgibbon Cup is after being brought forward by a week which is into that 7th and 8th of January window which is going to make it really tight on numbers for us. We have thirteen playing Fitzgibbon Cup, so that's going to make it a challenge."

Kiely has reported a close to fully fit squad ahead of the Munster senior hurling league.

“At the minute, we are in a good healthy state across the panel, fitness wise. We've nearly all the panel training at the moment, there's three or four lads just coming back into it, so hopefully fingers crossed the next two weeks will go well and we will be ok.”

All-Ireland Poc Fada champion Colin Ryan has been recalled to the Limerick line-up as goalkeeper, the Pallasgreen man having last featured in the forwards for the Treaty in 2019. Ryan made his return in goals for Limerick against Tipperary.

“He has played there before at underage. He's obviously a very skilful hurler. He had a very positive evening's work,” said John Kiely of Colin Ryan's return to the Limerick senior hurling panel as a goalkeeper. 

“He has a lot to do, he knows that himself. It's still very early doors. But after a month's work, a performance like that, he'll be very happy.”

The Munster senior hurling league final is scheduled for Saturday January 17 at 3;15pm with a venue to be confirmed. Limerick will begin their Allianz Hurling League campaign away to Waterford on Sunday February 1 at 2pm in Walsh Park.