Preview | Limerick look to close in on NHL semi-final place with trip to Westmeath

A win in Mullingar will ensure Limerick hold the aces heading into the final round clash with Wexford on Sunday week.

Limerick can move one step closer to a place in the National Hurling League semi-finals with a win over Westmeath in Mullingar this Sunday afternoon at 2pm.

John Kiely’s men have won two on the trot and another this weekend will put them just 70 minutes away from a first League semi-final since 2019.

On that March occasion, they overcame Dublin before securing a maiden League title in 22 years with a Croke Park triumph over Waterford.

Limerick did retain their title the following year but missed out on the knockout stages due to the onset of the Covid pandemic. Instead, their Munster championship clash with Clare doubled as a League final.

However, there were just three wins between the 2021 and 2022 League campaigns for Limerick with two of those coming against Joe McDonagh competitors in Offaly and this weekend’s opponents Westmeath.

Defeat came in their opener earlier this February in Pairc Ui Chaoimh but since Limerick have been impressive in successive wins over Clare and Galway, both of whom reached the All-Ireland last four in 2022.

Those results have Limerick in second place in Group A of the top tier behind Cork who have won each of their games and ahead of Clare on H2H following the Gaelic Grounds victory.

A win in Mullingar will ensure they hold the aces heading into the final round clash with Wexford in the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Sunday week.

And Limerick will take solace from their recent meetings with the Leinster side who are rooted to the foot of the table without a win and a points differential of (-42).

When the teams met in the same venue in the league two years ago, Limerick were 3-26 to 0-18 winners over the hosts. It wasn’t as straight forward as the result suggests with only four points between the sides at the half. But goals from Kyle Hayes, Darren O’Connnell and Pat Ryan in the final quarter pulled Limerick clear.

12 months previously, Westmeath put it up to Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds before succumbing to a nine-point loss with David Dempsey grabbing the games only goal.

In this year’s League, Westmeath have showed glimpses of quality but in the end were overpowered by Clare, Wexford and Cork. The defeat to Clare was the largest by a distance (25-points), but they were within three scores of Wexford which was down to two against Cork last time out.

But still it is hard to imagine a world where the hosts defeat the three-in-a-row All-Ireland champions who have looked close to their best in flashes thus far in the league.

It has been the three first-half displays that will have been particularly pleasing for Kiely as they led Cork by eight, Clare by six and Galway by seven. Lapses have occurred in each second half but Limerick are worlds apart from their Spring performances in 2022.

Mullingar will also provide the platform for Kiely to rotate his options with the likes of Micheal Houlihan, Donnacha O’Dalaigh, Fergal O’Connor, Shane O’Brien and Ciaran Barry impressing in their maiden League campaign. Others like Adam English and Colin Coughlan have also impressed with Cian Lynch back after missing the majority of last year’s campaign.

Kiely will be likely to offer more game time to fringe players on Sunday but will have one eye on the 23rd of April when they open their championship campaign against the Deise.

The Galbally native is to name his team on Friday evening at 9pm but regardless of the personnel, it is hard to see past a comprehensive Limerick victory.

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