PREVIEW | Limerick host Clare in return to the TUS Gaelic Grounds

John Kiely’s men return to the Ennis Rd for the first time since beating Tipperary in the Munster championship last May.

The TUS Gaelic Grounds will play host to the National Hurling League second-round clash between neighbours Limerick and Clare this Saturday evening.

After playing out three draws in 2022, there is much anticipation of the game which throws in at 7pm. Limerick were victorious when they met in the Munster Hurling League final but there was no separating the sides in the league or round-robin championship with John Kiely’s men needing extra-time in the Munster championship final.

Limerick v Clare Tickets

Limerick were defeated in their opening league clash last Saturday evening in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, falling by a solitary point to Cork after the Rebels launched a late comeback. Conversely, Clare were dominant in their opener, hitting Westmeath for 4-27 in a 25-point win.

Mark Rodgers, who hit 2-2 with both of his goals coming in the first half, will be a doubt for Saturday evening as he takes to the field for UL in their Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final with UCD on Thursday evening. College mate Colin Coughlan will be in the same boat as he started last weekend in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Limerick also have Cathal O’Neill, Adam English and Mark Quinlan involved with UL.

In their league opener, John Kiely reinstated a number of the All-Irealnd winning team with just three used during the Munster league. The Galbally man handed out league debuts to Donnacha O’Dalaigh, Shane O’Brien and Ciaran Barry whilst overseeing the return of Cian Lynch.

The two-time hurler of the year was introduced after 65 minutes, replacing the instrumental Gearoid Hegarty who continued in his All-Ireland final man-of-the-match form with 0-3 from play. Lynch’s appearance was his first since the All-Ireland semi-final last July as he recovered from ankle surgery.

And the Patrickswell man will make a first start since the Munster Championship win over Waterford last April this weekend as Kiely named his side for the contest on Thursday evening. There are seven of the All-Ireland winning side named from the start including seasonal debuts for Nickie Quaid, Kyle Hayes and Peter Casey. For Casey it is a first start for Limerick since July 2021, the All-Ireland Final.

Elsewhere, Shane O’Brien, Micheal Houlihan and Fergal O’Connor will make full league debuts.

Brian Lohan, who is in his fourth year in charge of Clare will be keen to build on a positive 2022 where they reached the All-Ireland semi-finals for the first time in four years. They could not have got off to a better start than the drubbing against Westmeath but the Banner will be wary of tougher opposition heading to the home of the All-Ireland champions.

The heavy victory also came without All-Star duo Tony Kelly and John Conlon with Aidan McCarthy marking his return from injury with 0-10.

Clare haven’t played in the TUS Gaelic Grounds since 2019, where they were on the receiving end of a 1-28 to 0-13 defeat at the hands of the reigning All-Ireland champions.

However, their most recent meeting, the 2022 Munster Hurling final will love long in the memory as one of the greats between the teams. Chasing a four-in-a-row of provincial titles, Declan Hannon looked like winning the game with a wonderful long range effort. But Tony Kelly proved equal from the next attack, launching over an acute sideline to send the game to extra-time.

The defending champions showed their resolve to pull away in the final twenty with Clare running out of steam in the All-Ireland semi-final as Limerick made it three-in-a-row in Croke Park.

Saturday’s game will be televised live on RTÉ while tickets for the clash can be got here.