UNDER new captain Cian Lynch of Patrickswell (and vice-captain Wiliam O’Donoghue, Na Piarsaigh), Limerick will open its 2025 National Hurling League campaign with a tasty away outing against Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh next Saturday, throw-in 7.30pm.
It’s the first meeting of the great rivals since their tilt in the All-Ireland Championship semi-final last Summer, a contest in which Cork ended Limerick’s dream of a record Five-in-a-Row.
Cork themselves, of course, were subsequently downed in the final by Clare at Croke Park.
Although John Kiely’s charges are on the road this weekend, Limerick supporters – in sharp contrast to last season’s competition where we had no home fixtures due to remedial works on the Gaelic Grounds – can look forward to high-profile visits from Tipperary, Clare, Galway and Wexford, while there is also an away match with Kilkenny.
In Division 1A, the top teams will contest the final, while the bottom two will be relegated ahead of the centenary of the competition in 2026.
Limerick and Cork have been outright league winners on 14 occasions each, with Kilkenny and Tipperary joint Roll of Honour (19) leaders.
It’s unlikely that either Kiely – now in his 9th year at the helm – or his counterpart Pat Ryan will view winning the league an outright priority for ‘25, nonetheless both will be keen to pick up points early-on to avoid being dragged into a relegation scenario in a few weeks’ time.
Travelling fans can expect the manager to field a strong cohort of established figures, which will also afford opportunities to others not still engaged in Fitzgibbon Cup action, such as Eddie Stokes and Barry Murphy, both of county champions Doon, Evan O’Leary (Ahane), Micheál Houlihan (Kilmallock), Darragh Langan (Monaleen) and Dylan Lynch, Na Piarsaigh.
Jason Gillane (Patrickswell), Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh) and Conor Hanley-Clarke, Kilmallock, are current goalkeeping options.
Seán Stack (Dublin) will officiate.
