LIMERICK can comfortably hope to make it a couple of wins from as many starts in the Allianz National Hurling League with a Division 1B victory over Westmeath at Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday (2pm).
In the opening defence of their title, John Kiely’s experimental side easily dispatched with the challenge of Antrim, 1-36 to 1-9, at Semple Stadium in Thurles.
A pleasing aspect was the immense collective display of Limerick’s inside forward line – Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Monaleen, (1-7), Shane O’Brien, Kilmallock, (0-5) and Adam English, Doon, (0-10) – who between them returned an immense 1-22.
In their respective opener, Westmeath suffered a 30-odd point defeat away to Galway.
In last season’s fixture between Limerick and Westmeath, again in Mullingar, the visitors were comfortable 1-27 to 1-15 winners, helped by significant scoring contributions from Tom Morrissey (0-9), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (0-5), and Peter Casey (0-3), while Diarmaid Byrnes grabbed the goal.
In the weeks ahead, Limerick will face stiffer challenges from Dublin (away), Tipperary (home), and Galway (home).
Boss Kiely and his selector will also, in the coming weeks, have to trim their panel from its current strong number of 46 players.
The run-in to the NHL is set to be the most competitive in years as finishing positions will determine whether teams will compete in a new seven-team top flight in 2025.
Currently, 12 sides play in two Division 1 groups of six.
However, the league will be based on a meritocracy from 2025. Only the top three in each top flight group this year will qualify for the new seven-team Division 1A, along with the winners of a play-off between the two fourth-placed counties.
In 2025, the bottom two teams in Division 1A will be replaced by the top two in Division 1B. The top two counties will compete in the final.
At this juncture, Limerick, Tipperary, and Galway look certain qualifiers from 1B to the top-tier, but in 1A it’s a lot more interesting with Cork, Clare, Waterford, Kilkenny, and Wexford all seeking one of just three automatic qualification berths.
The league will celebrate its centenary in 2026.
