Limerick seek to lower the Banner in Munster Championship clash

LIMERICK hurlers face a stiff test against Clare in their opening Munster Senior Hurling Championship fixture this Sunday, in Cusack Park, Ennis at 2pm.

Clare will be coming into this opening round game with the 2024 league title under their belts after an impressive 3-16 to 1-20 victory over Kilkenny just two weeks ago.

This Sunday's game also has the added pressure of a ‘sold out’ Cusack Park, with the capacity of the grounds been increased to just over 20,000 spectators. Tickets for the game have been swept up almost immediately with many hurling fans left disappointed.

After reigning All-Ireland champions Limerick crashed out of the Allianz Hurling League with a semi-final defeat to ‘the Cats’, John Kiely and his management team regrouped and brought the players to a training camp in Portugal ahead of the start of the Munster Championship round robin phase.

Speaking at the recent launch of a new Limerick GAA fundraiser - Win a Home in Adare, John Kiely said: “When we train on a regular weekly basis, it’s Tuesday night and Friday night and maybe sometimes at the weekend or we have a game.

“It’s three sessions in a week, whereas when you are away like that you are getting more sessions and you can also do more a specific type of training - it might not all be high intensity training, so you can have video sessions, meetings about various aspects or sessions of low intensity to focus on key areas of your training.

“We know we have a little bit more work to do to be ready for championship, but every session you get done is an added piece of work and another bit of hay in the barn if you like.

“You feel confident when you know you have the work done and if you haven’t your work done, you won’t feel confident - it’s about getting the work done to have the confidence to take on the challenges that lie ahead”.

Limerick came out winners in the last encounter against Clare back in January where they ran out 2-21 to 1-17 victors in the Munster Senior Hurling League. The sides also met in last year's Munster senior hurling final when Limerick emerged victorious 1-23 to 1-22 at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Speaking at the Launch of the Eir Senior Hurling Championship Limerick Captain Declan Hannon revealed how excited the team is about the opening game of the Munster championship.

“Ennis is a great venue to play in and in front of a sold-out crowd the atmosphere is going to be electric. We are looking forward to it.”