Limerick open National Hurling League bid against Waterford on Sunday

LIMERICK will get their 2026 Allianz Hurling League campaign underway away to Waterford on Sunday afternoon at 2pm.The Shannonsiders had a bye in the opening round of Division 1A at the weekend.

This weekend's opponents Waterford lost heavily 3-25 to 1-17 to Cork in their opening Allianz League outing at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

John Kiely's Limerick side had a positive January where they won the Munster senior league title with the manager giving gametime to several young players.

READ NEXT: Battling Limerick play out exciting draw with Laois in Allianz Football League opener

Limerick are currently carrying 41 players on their squad and Kiely confirmed that will be reviewed ahead of their league campaign.Kiely is hoping Limerick can improve from last year's Allianz League campaign after they finished fifth in Division 1A.

“We have a lot to do to make sure we have our own ship in order going down to Walsh Park. It will be a big challenge, We’ve definitely a bit of confidence built into the group after the Munster League. We have to tap into that now.

“We didn't have a good league last year and it was very disappointing, particularly the latter stages of it. It's very important to us and that game is really important to us,” added Kiely.

John Kiely provided a fitness update on Kyle Hayes, who has been out of action since August after suffering a neck injury while playing for Kildimo-Pallaskenry in the Limerick senior hurling championship.

“Kyle is doing a bit of work. He has more to do. We're monitoring that. Obviously, it was a very serious injury and we want to make sure that when we do get him back, he's absolutely 100% right. That's the most important thing,” manager Kiely said after their Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League final win over Waterford.

Kiely also said defender Barry Nash is making ‘great progress’.Former Kilmallock manager Peter Queally is into his second year in charge of the Waterford senior hurling side. Queally has added former Cork coach Donal O'Rourke and Limerick native Adrian O'Sullivan to his backroom this year.Ballygunner’s All-Ireland success has provided a major boost to Waterford hurling.

Limerick will have their first home game in the Allianz Hurling League against Kilkenny in the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday, February 8 at 3:45pm.

Meanwhile, the Limerick senior footballers opened their Allianz Football League Division 3 campaign with a share of the spoils in a gritty 1-10 to 0-13 draw with Laois at Laois Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise on Saturday night.

The sides were also level at half time with Limerick on 0-7 and Laois notching 1-4 after the opening 35 minutes. Jimmy Lee's Limerick sided nudged into a one-point lead, 0-13 to 1-9, in second half injury time after Eliah Riordan landed a two-point free.
However, home side Laois struck for a late equaliser through Niall Corbet to secure a share of the spoils.

Next up for Limerick is a home fixture against Down at Mick Neville Park on Saturday next, 2pm throw-in.

In Division 3 of the Lidl Ladies Football League, Limerick suffered an opening day defeat when going down 3-6 to 0-8 to Roscommon yesterday afternoon in Kiltoom. The sides had been level 1-2 to 0-5 at half-time. Limerick host Antrim in a home fixture in round two of the Lidl Ladies Football League next weekend.