LIMERICK and Clare will renew old rivalries this Sunday January 19 in the Waterford Crystal Cup quarter final.
Sunday’s clash, at Sixmilebridge with a throw in of 2pm, will be the first time the sides have met since the All Ireland semi final last summer.
Limerick qualified for the quarter final stage after securing a 10-17 to 0-9 win over IT Tralee last weekend in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale.
This weekend’s game will be Clare’s first outing since lifting the Liam Mc Carthy cup in September. The Davy Fitzgerald-lead side has only just returned from a squad holiday and with several players expected to line out for their colleges this coming weekend, Clare will not be at full strength.
Limerick managed to blood new players last weekend with Doon trio Richie English, Cathal McNamara and Micheal Ryan, Kilmallock pair Barry Hennessy and Philip O’Loughlin, Adare’s John Fitzgibbon and William Hickey of South Liberties all get a start.
Darragh Kennedy (Murroe-Boher) and Barry Lynch (Feohanagh-Castlemahon) were also handed first appearances as substitutes.
Joint managers, TJ Ryan and Donal O’Grady were also able to look at players in different positions over the course of the clash.
Captain of the side Donal O’Grady played at number 11 and contributed 2-2. Philip O’Loughlin played at full back, while Wayne Mc Namara, last season’s number 6, lined out at 5.
The impressive John Fitzgibbon of Adare managed a personal haul of 2-7, with 0-5 coming from placed balls.
SCORERS: Limerick: John Fitzgibbon 2-7 (0-5frees), Graeme Mulcahy 3-1, Paul Browne and Donal O’Grady 2-2 each, William Hickey 1-1, James Ryan 0-2, Richie English and Nickie Quaid 0-1 each.
LIMERICK: Barry Hennessy; Stephen Walsh, Philip O’Loughlin, Richie English; Wayne McNamara, Cathal McNamara, Gavin O’Mahony; Paul Browne, Paudie O’Brien; William Hickey, Donal O’Grady, James Ryan; Graeme Mulcahy, Micheal Ryan, John Fitzgibbon. Subs: Darragh Kennedy for Micheal Ryan (h-t), Barry Lynch for Wayne McNamara (54mins), Nickie Quaid for Paudie O’Brien (55mins).
