THE Limerick senior hurling, senior football and under-20 football management teams have announced their starting teams for a hectic weekend of championship activity.
Captain Declan Hannon has shrugged off his flu and will line-out in his usual number six berth for Sunday’s Munster Senior Hurling Championship opener against Waterford at Semple Stadium, Thurles (RTÉ/Live 95, 2pm).
Manager John Kiely will field a team of All-Stars.
Limerick: Nickie Quaid (Effin); Sean Finn (Bruff), Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Barry Nash (South Liberties); Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Declan Hannon (Adare), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry); Darragh O’Donovan (Doon), William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh); Gearoid Hegarty (St. Patrick’s), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), Tom Morrissey (Ahane); Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh/Castlemahon), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh).
Subs: Jamie Power (Monaleen), Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Ronan Connolly (Adare), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown), Richie English (Doon), Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock), Barry Murphy (Doon), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen), Cathal O’Neill (Crecora/Manister), David Reidy (Dromin/Athlacca).
In football, Limerick are boosted by the return of Iain Corbett for Saturday night’s Munster Senior Championship semi-final tilt with Clare at the TUS Gaelic Grounds (Live 95, 7pm).
Corbett is joint captain, along with goalkeeper Donal O’Sullivan.
There are debuts for Cathal Downes and Barry Coleman.
Limerick have been chalked-up by the bookmakers as massive outsiders.
The winners will progress to a Munster Final and earn a tilt at the Sam Maguire Cup, while the losers will wait for the start of the Tailteann Cup.
Limerick: Donal O’Sullivan (Monaleen); Mike Donovan (Galbally), Seán O’Dea (Kilteely/Dromkeen), Brian Fanning (Pallasgreen); Barry Coleman (Rathkeale), Iain Corbett (Newcastle West), Jim Liston (Gerald Griffins); Cillian Fahy (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Cathal Downes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry); Cian Sheehan (Newcastle West), Colm McSweeney (Gerald Griffins), Paul Maher (Adare); James Naughton (St. Senan’s), Brian Donovan (Monaleen), Hugh Bourke (Adare).
Substitutes: Aaron O’Sullivan (Pallasgreen), Gordon Brown (Na Piarsaigh), David Connolly (Adare), Tommy Griffin (Gerald Griffins), Davey Lyons (Adare), Tony McCarthy (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Peter Nash (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Ruadhan O’Connor (Newcastle West), Liam O’Sullivan (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Jack Ryan (Dromcollogher/Broadford), Cormac Woulfe (St. Senan’s).
Diarmuid Mullins has also announced his side for tonight’s Munster Under-20 Hurling fixture in Thurles (7.30pm, TG4).
Limerick: Josh O’Reilly (Ballybrown); David Fitzgerald (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Ronan Lyons (Monaleen), Evan O’Leary (Ahane); Barry Duff (Mungret St. Paul’s), Cian Scully (Dromin/Athlacca), Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West), Joseph Fitzgerald (Monaleen), John Kirby (Patrickswell); Fintan Fitzgerald (Mungret St. Paul’s), Patrick O’Donovan (Effin), Adam Fitzgerald (Templeglantine); Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock), Adam English (Doon), Seán O’Neill (Blackrock).
Substitutes: Killian Quaid (Murroe/Boher), Michael Gavin (Ballybrown), William Dore (Dromin/Athlacca), Darragh Langan (Monaleen), Con Hayes (Newcastle West), Oisín O’Farrell (Askeaton), John Fitzgerald (Na Piarsaigh), Séan Whelan (Cappamore), Liam Dennehy (Glenroe).
In minor football, Limerick registered a superb 4-6 to 0-15 defeat of Clare in Miltown-Malbay last night, with the goals arriving from Newcastle West’s Andrew Lyons (2), Tommy Glynn of Na Piarsaigh and Adam Murphy (Fr. Casey’s).
