LIMERICK face Clare in the All Ireland hurling qualifiers this Saturday night at 7pm in Thurles.
The game, which is to be broadcast on Sky Sports and Limerick’s Live95fm, is without doubt the most important game in the tenure of Limerick hurling manager TJ Ryan.
Ryan, who is coming under increasing pressure from fans, could go a long way to securing a new deal with the Limerick County Board should Limerick win this weekend and enter the All Ireland quarter finals.
Saturday’s clash will be the 53rd championship meeting, with Limerick leading 35-16 (one game was drawn) from their previous 52 clashes.
Limerick will look to take confidence from the two sides’ most recent championship meeting last year. A tie which Limerick won by 1-19 to 2-15 in the Munster quarter-final.
On that day in Thurles, Shane Dowling 0-11 and Graeme Mulcahy 1-1 were Limerick’s top scorers while Colin Ryan 0-7 and Aaron Cunningham 2-1 were Clare’s leading marksmen.
However, Clare will take their template for defeating Limerick from the counties last meeting, back in April in the league.
Clare won that Division 1B final round clash by 1-19 to 0-18 to secure the promotion spot. On that night, Limerick had Barry Nash sent off just before half-time, an incident that handed the initiative to the home side for whom Barry Duggan 0-6 (0-5 frees) and Conor McGrath were top scorers.
In the context of immediate and current form, Clare will enter the game as favourites. The Bannermen have already collected silverware this season, claiming the National Hurling League title.
If both sides were to be judged on how they handled the first round of qualifiers, again, the balance is tipped in Clare’s favour following their impressive 35 point win over Laois, as Limerick struggled to conquer Westmeath.
Last Five Meetings:
2015: Limerick 1-19 Clare 2-15 (Munster quarter-final)
2013: Clare 1-22 Limerick 0-18 (All-Ireland semi-final)
2012: Limerick 3-18 Clare 1-20 (All-Ireland qualifiers)
2008: Clare 4-12 Limerick 1-16 (Munster semi-final)
2007: Limerick 1-23 Clare 1-16 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Road to the Qualifiers:
Waterford 1-21 Clare 0-17 (Munster semi-final)
Clare 5-32 Laois 0-12 (All-Ireland qualifier – Round 1)
Tipperary 3-12 Limerick 1-16 (Munster semi-final)
Limerick 1-24 Westmeath 0-18 (All-Ireland qualifier – Round 1)
