PREVIEW | The Limerick Minors welcome Clare in search of second successive victory

Both sides will have a chance to make giant strides toward a provincial final with a second successive win that would put them clear at the top of the table.

The Limerick Minor Hurlers can move one step closer to a Munster Final berth in just their second provincial outing this Tuesday evening when they welcome Clare to the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

It is a meeting of round one winners with the clash of the neighbours throwing in at 7pm on Tuesday evening. The game will be streamed live by Munster GAA TV.

In the first round last Tuesday, Limerick were victorious over Waterford in increasingly difficult conditions in the Fraher Field whilst Clare were impressive 2-15 to 0-14 winners over Tipp in a reverse of last year’s final result.

This year is a return to the full round-robin format after a three-year absence owing to the pandemic but both sides will have a chance to make giant strides toward a provincial final with a second successive win that would put them clear at the top of the table with a pair of rounds to play.

Interestingly, the last meeting of the sides came back in 2019, the previous edition of the round robin, where Limerick got the upperhand in the Munster final, their second victory over the Banner in a month.

Cathal O’Neill, who captained the side in Michael Keane’s injury inforced absence, was the key man on the day, totaling 0-9 with three of those coming from open play. He is one of five Limerick players (Colin Coughlan, Fergal O’Connor, Jimmy Quilty & Adam English) from that afternoon that have since gone on to win All-Ireland senior honours.

Despite the gap between minor meetings of the sides, the teams will be no strangers to each other with no fewer than 18 currently enrolled in Ardscoil Rís. Limerick captain Sean Morrissey started at corner back in the North Circular Road school’s defeat to Cashel CS in the Harty Cup semi-final alongside county teammate John O’Keeffe. Clare’s Jamie Moylan, Matthew O’Halloran, Marc O’Brien and Micheal Collins also started that game with the latter scoring an incredible goal against Tipp last time out.

Limerick manager Evan Loftus has made just one change to the side that beat Waterford with Mungret St Pauls’ Sean Duff coming in for goalscorer Cathal Hayes. The Newcastle West native was followed in his goalscoring exploits by brother Con in the 20s win over Waterford while Duff’s brother Barry scored from midfield in the same game.

For Limerick, they will have a three-week break to their next outing when they travel to Thurles to take on Tipperary on April 18. Clare will be out next on April 11 against Waterford.

Watch Limerick v Clare (Munster MHC Round 2)

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