Limerick hurlers switch focus to Clare after Mallow postponement

LIMERICK'S senior hurlers must wait to begin their 2024 season after yesterday's scheduled Co-op Superstores Munster Hurling League tie with Cork in Mallow was postponed due to fog.

The fixture fell foul of the weather at the Cork venue with the pitch deemed unplayable due to the poor visibility.

Munster GAA had examined the possibility of playing the game at an alternate venue - Páirc Uí Rinn in Cork city - but that was also deemed unplayable.

The game will be re-fixed at a later date, but will not take place this week due to Limerick's mid-week fixture with Clare and Cork's group fixture with the Banner set for next Sunday.

Limerick will now open their 2024 season against Clare in Clarecastle this coming Wednesday at 7pm. Following the postponement of the game against Cork, the panel of players embarked on a training session on one of the back pitches in Mallow, while Pat Ryan's ‘Rebels' outfit trained on the main pitch.

A big crowd had descended on Mallow for the game and were left in the dark up to the official confirmation of the game being postponed. Supporters were unable to access the venue for the game and were informed via social media by Munster GAA that the fixture would not take place. More than 2,000 tickets had been sold for the fixture.

Elsewhere, the Limerick senior footballers suffered a heavy defeat in their season opener against Kerry in the McGrath Cup at Mick Neville Park on Saturday afternoon. Jimmy Lee's charges were downed by Kerry on a 6-18 to 0-11 scoreline.

It was a sobering start to Lee's tenure as Limerick senior football boss with ‘The Kingdom’ running riot in the opening 35 minutes.

Limerick limited the damage in the second half but it was still a tough start for the Newcastle West man.

“It is what it is,” said Lee after the final whistle. “It's about what the lads showed and the green shoots and what we are doing on the training field. We haven't 17 of last year's panel. They would have had that experience.

“There was a lot of youth out there. Six started and across the panel there was 12 that had debuts. It's back to rebuilding. Certain movements I was happy with and other bits, we won't be happy with.

“We will review this and work from it during the week. Tipperary will be a different challenge.”

Lee added that Limerick playing against the likes of Kerry is a good thing for young players and that the nature of the defeat and the scoreline gap between the two teams.

“I told the lads to forget about the scoreline. It's insignificant. This is about building. Why would you worry about the scoreline? We had a couple of 19-year-old's there today and lads in their early 20s. It's about getting that blend right. We have brought in different age groups to see if we can get that blend right.”

Limerick have injury worries ahead of their next game against Tipperary in the McGrath Cup on Sunday but Lee is hopeful that the majority will be ready for their opening Allianz Football League Division 3 opener against Antrim on January 28.