The experts' view ahead of Limerick v Clare in the Munster SHC

AHEAD of the highly anticipated start of the Munster senior hurling championship, we sat down with five ex Limerick inter-county stars. 

Aoife Sheehan (RTE GAA Analyst)

ARE LIMERICK OR CLARE FAVOURITES TO WIN SUNDAY'S GAME?
You could make an argument for Clare on recent form, winning the league, going into the game with that momentum and playing at home in Ennis but Limerick, 4 in-a-row champions, will be ready for the Clare challenge and are favourites to win in my book.

WHAT ARE THE KEY MATCH-UPS BETWEEN LIMERICK AND CLARE?
There will be battles all over the field, I was at the league final and the introduction of Shane O'Donnell at halftime gave Clare an urgency upfront that was lacking until then. David Fitzgerald has been key for them during the league, who picks him up is important - but impossible to predict at this stage who will be picking up who as it depends on the way the teams are set up.

WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF LIMERICK'S FORM THIS YEAR?
I think they had a fine league campaign when you factor in that they couldn't play any games at home but didn't perform to their standard versus Kilkenny in the semi-final. A lot of players got valuable game time and performed well, Cathal O'Neill & Donnacha O'Dalaigh especially.

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF LIMERICK AND CLARE GAMES OF THE PAST?
The stand-out one will always be Munster Championship 1996, Ciaran Carey's point. Lately, when the teams meet, the encounters are tense!

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL GET OUT OF MUNSTER?
Limerick, Clare and Cork.

DO YOU THINK LIMERICK WILL WIN FIVE-IN-A-ROW OF ALL-IRELAND TITLES?
Yes, once they get on the road and out of Munster they will be very difficult to beat. Getting through the Munster Championship and avoiding injuries will also be key to their All-Ireland title hopes.

James Ryan (Former Limerick hurler)

ARE LIMERICK OR CLARE FAVOURITES TO WIN SUNDAY'S GAME?
I’m going to be biased and put Limerick as favourites. Clare are looking good and obviously Limerick are going for five-in-a-row. I’d call it more of a 50/50 battle.

WHAT ARE THE KEY MATCH-UPS BETWEEN LIMERICK AND CLARE?
The positioning of players and what players will play are the big talking points. Will Tony Kelly and Declan Hannon be playing? There’s a load of talking points before you even get to the match-ups and that’s the excitement with the first round of the championship.

WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF LIMERICK'S FORM THIS YEAR?
It’s very hard to read because they’ve made five or six changes every game, and they had a lot of injuries. I think they will be happy enough and got a lot of gametime into the younger players.

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF LIMERICK AND CLARE GAMES OF THE PAST?
It’s a local rivalry and form can often go out the window. It’s bragging rights and a lot of lads would know eachother through ArdScoil Ris.It’s a game you have to mentally prepare yourself for that extra bit.

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL GET OUT OF MUNSTER?
Tipperary are finding it hard to get a top level performance consistently and Waterford have been poor for the last two years. I think it’s going to be Cork, Limerick and Clare.

DO YOU THINK LIMERICK WILL WIN FIVE-IN-A-ROW OF ALL-IRELAND TITLES?
Short answer, yes. We’ll know a lot more after the Clare game. Limerick are the best team in Ireland and have the best players. They’ll meet a lot of challenges along the way.

Mark Foley (TG4 Hurling Analyst)

ARE LIMERICK OR CLARE FAVOURITES TO WIN SUNDAY'S GAME?
I would still say if Limerick show the same form they’ve shown over the last few years, I’d still fancy them to get the job done. I know Clare have made great strides this year and on top of that they’ve great record in Ennis, Limerick haven’t won there since 1990.

WHAT ARE THE KEY MATCH-UPS BETWEEN LIMERICK AND CLARE?
As regards match-ups it’s very difficult to know in the modern game. I just hope Limerick press high up the field and have a real go and try to turn Clare over. That middle third battle will be crucial. 

WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF LIMERICK'S FORM THIS YEAR?
For a team of Limerick’s profile who’ve been on the road for a while, the league has been decent to them and it was a nice run into the championship. Ultimately you would have been disappointed with the display against Kilkenny, they’ll need a big improvement on that.

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF LIMERICK AND CLARE GAMES OF THE PAST?
It’s a local derby really. Especially when you go down to Ennis, the crowd are right on top of you. It’s very raw and emotional down there. It hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Limerick.

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL GET OUT OF MUNSTER?
Limerick, Clare and Cork. The goal is to get out of Munster and get back to Croke Park. And I think if Limerick do that they’ll be very difficult to beat.

DO YOU THINK LIMERICK WILL WIN FIVE-IN-A-ROW OF ALL-IRELAND TITLES?
If they can get out of Munster, they’ll be in the shake up. There's definitely a lot of energy left in this team. The age profile is still very good. A lot of players still have a lot to prove and I think they will be hell-bent on winning the All-Ireland this year.

Niall Moran (Former Limerick Hurler)

ARE LIMERICK OR CLARE FAVOURITES TO WIN SUNDAY'S GAME?
On current form, with the clean bill of health Clare have shown over recent weeks they are maybe marginally favourites. At the end of the day the All-Ireland champions are coming to Cusack Park. As everybody knows there will be nothing between these two teams.

WHAT ARE THE KEY MATCH-UPS BETWEEN LIMERICK AND CLARE?
One of the key match-ups will be Aaron Gillane and Conor Cleary. They’ve had massive battles over the years. In last year's game Aaron Gillane ultimately was the difference between these two teams.

WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF LIMERICK'S FORM THIS YEAR?
In general we would have been pretty pleased with the league in terms of what was used. I don’t think they’ll be overly concerned. The next two weeks will tell a lot in terms of the overall All-Ireland ambitions.

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF LIMERICK AND CLARE GAMES OF THE PAST?
As a child growing up who will ever forget the battles of 94 and 95 especially Ciaran Carey’s point in 95. You either have the bragging rights or you have to suck it up, I don’t think there is a rivalry as intense. Cusack Park will be absolutely rocking on Sunday.

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL GET OUT OF MUNSTER?
Limerick, Clare and Cork.

DO YOU THINK LIMERICK WILL WIN FIVE-IN-A-ROW OF ALL-IRELAND TITLES?
I’d be a lot more confident if we had to come through the Leinster championship as opposed to the Munster championship. It’s fairly attritional and I would be very hopeful. Injuries will have a huge impact on what happens.

Tom Condon (2018 All-Ireland winner)

ARE LIMERICK OR CLARE FAVOURITES TO WIN SUNDAY'S GAME?
Personally, I would be thinking Clare are the form team going into this. Especially after winning the league they seem to be going nicely and Brian Lohan has them playing well.

WHAT ARE THE KEY MATCH-UPS BETWEEN LIMERICK AND CLARE?
Anytime Clare and Limerick play one the biggest match-ups would be Aaron Gillane and Conor Cleary. Last year, Clare couldn't get to the grips with Aaron Gillane.

WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF LIMERICK'S FORM THIS YEAR?
Limerick will be trying to time their run this year more so than any other year. I wouldn't be too worried about Limerick's form and they'll have their eyes on getting out of Munster.

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF LIMERICK AND CLARE GAMES OF THE PAST?
They were always passionate and high tempo games. Clare always seem to raise their performance for Limerick. Personally I always enjoyed playing in any game but especially Limerick and Clare. There was just a lot at stake. The atmosphere in Ennis always special.

WHO WILL BE THE THREE TEAMS TO GET OUT OF MUNSTER?
Any team on any given day can beat anyone. I'd be saying Limerick, Clare and Cork.

DO YOU THINK LIMERICK WILL WIN FIVE-IN -A-ROW OF ALL-IRELAND TITLES?
I fully believe that they can. I still think it's in their own hands in a way and you don't become a bad team overnight. They have progressed every year and the biggest thing for Limerick is to get out of Munster. Once they do that, I can't see them being stopped.