Limerick's All-Ireland hurling champions eye trip to Cork on Sunday

LIMERICK’S senior hurlers get their 2023 season underway on Sunday next with a trip to Pairc Ui Rinn where they take on Cork in the Co-op Superstores Munster Hurling League, 2pm.

John Kiely’s All-Ireland champions face a Cork side that opened their campaign with a 2-30 to 2-17 victory in Austin Stack Park, Tralee on Thursday evening last.

The Rebels have a new management team in place for 2023. Pat Ryan  has replaced Kieran Kingston and is joined by Fergal Condon, Wayne Sherlock Donal O’Mahony and Brendan Coleman.

Kiely’s men are current holders of the Munster Hurling League by virtue of their  win over Clare in Ennis. Last year, the Treatymen used the competition to blood some fresh faces and they will be likely to do so again.

Limerick selector Donal O’Grady believes that the competition has proved to be an excellent building block for the team in recent years.

“It’s done well for us the last couple of years and last year we found it very beneficial. We’re looking forward to it. It gets every player and backroom team kicked off for the new season. Potentially we are hoping to bring in a number of players. We will probably have five or six new guys in and hopefully they can add to things.”

O’Grady  admitted that it could be ‘a double edged sword’ when asked about trying to keep a winning formula in place or trying to bring something new to the table.

Limerick are back in training since early December and O’Grady added that training at this time of year is a bit of a balancing act when considering players that have only recently finished their seasons, and those that have not been hurling since the group stages of their respective club championships.

“It’s hard from a management team to not have a full panel of 36 and getting them all going at the same time. Obviously, there are different stages with the Na Piarsaigh players and the U21 players being out late, you have to give them their time off,” O’Grady said .

Limerick just have a two day break in between their trip to Leeside and their second group game against Kerry. Stephen Molumphy’s side are due to travel to Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale for a 7pm throw-in next week.