Eoin Brennan looks ahead to tomorrow’s NHL clash with Limerick in Cusack Park, with the All Ireland champions possibly ripe for the plucking

When Limerick overpowered Clare in their own home patch to secure the first silverware of 2022 six weeks ago, few could have predicted that the back-to-back All-Ireland champions would be still seeking their next victory upon their return this Sunday.

After all, while Clare are in the midst of an injury crisis which is far from resolved yet, even with less than half of their full strength side, Limerick’s superior physicality, movement and understanding was patently clear in that Munster Cup Final display in Cusack Park.

The statistics speak for themselves as John Kiely’s side had almost 50 shots at the target, with their impressive 27 point margin matched by a staggering 19 wides.

However, far from being the launchpad to vie for a third National Hurling League crown in four seasons, successive reverses to Wexford, Galway and Cork have rather stalled the champions; juggernaut and certainly weren’t part of the plan.

That said, anyone writing off Limerick due to their recent results as well as controversies that have included the dismissals of Gearoid Hegarty and Seamus Flanagan would be foolhardy.

Without requiring a degree in Kinnerkology, the return of the Munster Senior Championship round robin from mid-April suggests that Kiely and Co. have been working towards that date to peak, with the league merely serving as part of their training regime and a means to provide opportunities to new players.

Almost out of necessity, Clare are in a similar recruitment mode but more to develop their young players and flesh out their squad rather than the physically ready-made Limerick package.

Having not faced their Shannonside neighbours since that Munster Championship/National League Final in 2020, Clare were handed three home games against Limerick that will ultimately define their 2022 season.

The first was a 0-27 to 0-18 eye-opener but a Banner backlash is simply a prerequisite on Sunday if they are to demystify the psychological barrier for their championship rematch in mid-May.

Unquestionably, Clare paid Limerick too much respect last time out but with the casualty list so high and such a premature influx of new blood in the side, that eventuality was perhaps inevitable.

A line needs to be drawn in the sand this Sunday though as regardless of what side Limerick put out, Clare have to lay down a marker of their own in order to make Cusack Park a destination that their neighbours won’t have on their bucket list to visit come the summer.

In terms of their team, Gearoid Hegarty is expected to return following his suspension but that is offset by Seamus Flanagan’s ban.

Sean Finn is a doubt with a head injury, having had to come off before half-time against Cork but Barry Nash and goalkeeper Nickie Quaid are anticipated to be in line for a return.

There is some uncertainty surrounding the newest additions as UL’s involvement in the latter stages of the All-Ireland Freshers Championship means that Colin Coughlan, Adam English and Cathal O’Neill along with Clare’s Patrick Crotty could have three matches in the space of seven days.

From Brian Lohan’s perspective, the frustrations of seeing his first two years in charge clouded by COVID were arguably surpassed since the turn of the New Year with an unprecedented number of injuries to key players.

Talisman Tony Kelly, John Conlon and Peter Duggan thankfully returned to the fold in time to kickstart Clare’s season with a remarkable finish in Tullamore last Sunday. However, while beating Offaly released the pressure valve, take the scalp the Limerick could well be the making of Clare’s summer considering the age profile.

Up to that Munster Cup Final lesson, Limerick hadn’t garnered victory in Cusack Park for 11 years, even suffering a humiliating 11-point reverse on their way to a first All-Ireland for 45 years in 2018.

The hurling hierarchy has altered considerably since but considering Limerick’s current league malaise, Clare will never get a better opportunity to wrestle back control of Fortress Cusack Park ahead of the ultimate showdown nine weeks later.

National Hurling League
Division 1 Round 4
Clare v Limerick at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 1.45pm
(Patrick Murphy, Carlow)