John Tuohy talks Limerick V Offaly in All-Ireland Camogie Championship.

Limerick take on Offaly in the opening round of the Liberty All Ireland Camogie Championship this Saturday in the Gaelic Grounds at 2:30pm.

Limerick are coming into the game on the back of a first ever Munster Championship title having beaten Cork in the decider a few weeks back.

Cork are a big deal in Camogie terms with a list of Munster and All-Ireland titles to their names. For this Limerick team to beat them says a lot about the progress John Tuohy and this panel of players have made over the last few seasons.

Limerick have already beaten Offaly in the league this year but by only three points and we know that will count for nothing come Saturday afternoon.

They will look to stand out performers like captain Niamh Mulcahy, who scored 11 points against Cork, Caoimhe Lyons and Cliona Lane to get their All-Ireland campaign off to a good start.

Offaly are coming off a one point loss to All Ireland Champions Kilkenny in the Leinster Camogie Championship final so Limerick cannot afford to take them lightly. Siobhan Flannery is a key player for her side, someone who Limerick will have done their homework on.

Sporting Limerick spoke to Limerick manager John Tuohy ahead of the match. Limerick head into a round robin series in confident mood but Tuohy is taking absolutely nothing for granted.

“If you lose against a side like Offaly you are in a situation where your chasing the pack after that, it will be important to get a win under our belt, the girls know that.

“We have a much stronger panel than last year, we’re looking forward to bringing them players in and giving them the opportunity against Offaly as well.

“We won’t be complacent playing against Offaly, we’ll have to take it as if we’re playing against Cork or Tipperary or Galway.”

Limerick are now seen as serious contenders in this year’s Championship.. If they are to live up to this billing then a win at home against Offaly is crucial to get the campaign off to a positive start.

Limerick team to play Offaly.

1.Laura O’Neill 2. Lorraine McCarthy 3. Muireann Creamer 4. Sinead McNamara 5. Niamh Ryan 6. Sarah Carey 7. Judith Mulcahy 8. Karen O’Leary 9. Caoimhe Costelloe 10. Deborah Murphy 11. Cliona Kane 12. Niamh Mulcahy (capt) 13. Caoimhe Lyons 14. Rebecca Delee 15. Aisling Scanlon