TONIGHT’S Munster Hurling League outing between Limerick and Cork at Rathkeale’s Mick Neville Park has, once again, been postponed.
The postponement comes on account of a frozen pitch at the Rathkeale pitch. The game has been rescheduled for 2pm this Sunday (January 21). As a result, the final of the Munster Hurling League, which was intended to be played this Sunday, will need to be rescheduled also.
This is the second time the fateful clash has been postponed, following calling off due to fog on January 7.
The winners of Sunday’s game will challenge Waterford in the Munster Senior Hurling League Final on a date now yet to be confirmed.
Opponents for Davy Fitzgerald’s side will only be known after Sunday’s rescheduled winner-take-all contest in Rathkeale.
Clare surrendered interest with a weekend loss to Cork.
Waterford topped Group B with wins over Kerry and Tipperary. In the latter, the Déise squeezed home by a couple of points, 1-22 to 1-20.
A couple of sharpshooters in Padraig Fitzgerald (0-10) and Jack Prendergast (1-3) were the stand-out performers for Waterford, who rested All-Stars Jamie Barron, Tadhg de Búrca, and Stephen Bennett.
Limerick opened their 2024 campaign with a pleasing 2-21 to 1-19 defeat of Clare at a packed Clarecastle. Goals from young-guns Cathal O’Neill (Crecora-Manister) and Luke Flynn (Granagh/Ballingarry) at the end of either half were crucial to the outcome.
Paddy O’Donovan of Effin top-scored with seven lovely points, while Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock) was outstanding throughout.
Not surprisingly, manager John Kiely gave plenty of other fringe/new players an opportunity also to stake a place on his tightly-knit panel.
“We’ve always got to have an eye on the future and these guys are all quality player and they acquitted themselves very well,” said Kiely.
“It’s all about just getting embedded into the group and learning the routines of match day, and tonight would have been a learning experience for them and I think overall a good night’s work.”
Ahead of their National League defence, Limerick have committed to meet Tipperary in a worthly fundraiser for the Dillon Quirke Foundation at Semple Stadium in Thurles on Sunday January 28 (2pm).
Kiely too will have to pair back his panel to 35 inside the next fortnight.
Once again, Limerick have named an experimental selection for Sunday’s Munster SHL tie with Cork, if the side is to go unchanged from the one touted to play this evening.
Limerick: David McCarthy (Glenroe); Ronan Lyons (Monaleen), Emmet McEvoy (Na Piarsaigh), Aaron Costello (Kilmallock); Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West), Ronan Connolly (Adare), Ciarán Barry (Ahane); Micheál Houlihan (Kilmallock), Barry Murphy (Doon); Gearóid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca), Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh); Donal Coughlan (Doon), Luke Flynn (Granagh-Ballingarry), Oisín O’Reilly (Kilmallock).
Substitutes: Jamie Power (Monaleen), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Joe Fitzgerald (Monaleen), David Fitzgerald (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Mike Keane (Adare), Darragh Langan (Monaleen), Liam Lynch (Mungret St Paul’s), Evan O’Leary (Ahane).
Cork: Brion Saunderson (Midleton); Ger Millerick (Fr.O Neill’s), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), Seán O’Donoghue, captain, (Inniscarra); ConorO’Callaghan (Dromtarriffe), Tommy O Connell (Midleton), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum); Eoin Carey (Kilworth), Darragh Fitzgibbon ( Charleville); Seán Twomey (Courcey Rovers), Conor Lehane (Midleton), Shane Kingston (Douglas);Jack O’Connor (Sarsfields), Brian Hayes (St. Finbarrs), Robbie Cotter (Blackrock).
Meanwhile, Limerick champions Monaleen bump into Wolfe Tones Shannon in the semi-final of the Munster Junior B Hurling Chamionship at St Ita’s Park, Raheenagh, on Saturday (12pm). It will be followed by the other semi-final involving Drom and Inch (Tipperary) and St Oliver Plunketts of Cork.
