The eagerly awaited match between long-term adversaries, Clare and Limerick, is taking place at Cusack Park this Sunday, with live coverage on RTÉ2. This fixture will bring to light how these two contending teams stand in their rivalry. Currently, Clare appears to have an edge, being the fresh victors of the league following a significant victory over Kilkenny, even though the winning margin was whittled down towards the close of the game. In a stark comparison, Limerick were decisively defeated by the champions from Leinster, leaving them to puzzle over this end result.
Insisting on a formidable lineup, John Kiely has chosen Cathal O’Neill as the replacement for the injured Darragh O’Donovan in the centre of the field. O’Neill’s usual position is in the rear guard and he has spent the majority of his career in forward positions, suggesting a possible adjustment in tactics.
Going back to the memorable victory last year in Limerick, Clare pressed hard on the opposition’s defence, using the middle portion of the pitch effectively. This tactic was spearheaded by David Fitzgerald and Shane O’Donnell, with Tony Kelly and the now injured Ryan Taylor also contributing. Worthy of note is that Kelly has not played yet this year, despite being named in the squad.
It’s been speculated that the Clare team might be somewhat undermined by winning the league, as the last two victorious teams markedly underperformed in the following provincial championship. Even though Coach Brian Lohan’s squad showed optimism after their final match, there is an underlying worry that the feat of winning might drain more from the team than anticipated. Alongside this, there is added concern for the opposition due to Limerick making numerous adjustments after being outplayed by Kilkenny.
Limerick will definitely feel the absence of O’Donovan, who had developed into a key asset, along with the suspended Peter Casey, known for his ball judgement skills. Limerick has yet to taste victory in a round-robin game in Ennis and given how closely matched these teams are, it is anticipated that it could be anyone’s game. However, Clare, given their recent performance, seem to have a good chance. Our Prediction: Clare.
Waterford face off against Cork at Walsh Park at 4pm [Live, GAAGO], with the odds strongly favouring Cork due to Waterford’s less than stellar performance in the round-robin matches and their underwhelming league season. However, Waterford, having prepared for months specifically for this game, could offer a surprise if they implement a unique strategy to counteract Cork. Nevertheless, the morale in Waterford seems to be low, as evidenced by an expected audience whose home team supporters will be outnumbered by those of Cork. Cork themselves have been questioned, particularly around the enduring careers of forwards Séamus Harnedy, Conor Lehane, and Patrick Horgan. Yet, a couple of years ago they proved their worth at this same venue, contributing 0-14 between them.
Alan Connolly, who managed to score two consecutive hat-tricks in the league and netted 2-0 in the same year, in 2022, will also be a player of interest. After a challenging period marked by injuries, he’s returning to the starting line-up this weekend. Waterford’s defensive strategy might be solid, but the question is can they keep up with the scoring? Dessie Hutchinson could be a potential weapon if positioned more aggressively. When everything is considered, it’s Cork who appear to have an edge going into this game. Verdict: Favouring Cork.
On to the Leinster SHC, with Galway up against Carlow at Pearse Stadium at 2pm – Carlow, as the only Division 2A side in the MacCarthy Cup, face an uphill battle. Despite securing a move to next year’s 1B, but losing the final to Laois, they now find themselves facing a formidable Galway team. Galway will be remembering the 2019 fixture, where their victory margin of less than six cost them a championship place. Verdict: Favouring Galway.
Lastly, Wexford take on Dublin at Chadwicks Wexford Park at 2pm. This game has the reputation of being a pivotal third-place playoff. Although Dublin has won it for the past two years, they didn’t make it out of Leinster in 2022. Wexford, under Keith Rossiter’s leadership, have started strongly, securing a spot in next year’s Division One and uncovering a bunch of talented new players.
Dublin’s league campaign did not flourish, however, they successfully reinstated key players, particularly Dónal Burke and Eoghan O’Donnell, and recently put up a commendable fight against Limerick. Rossiter is in a position to include leading forwards, Lee Chin and Rory O’Connor, in his squad which should steer the home team towards a possible vital victory. Forecast: Wexford
Kilkenny vs Antrim, at UPMC Nowlan Park, 2.30, sees Kilkenny welcoming back TJ Reid, All Star Mikey Butler and Mikey Carey, each of whom didn’t play in the league final. Darren Gleeson is also in a position to bring back some of his main squad, who had to miss the league, especially the Elliotts – Nigel, Seaan, and goalie Ryan, as well as their Dunloy colleague Keelan Molloy. However, the team faces a tough first match. Yet, after their substantial victory at Corrigan Park the previous year, Kilkenny anticipates replicating that success at home. Decision: Kilkenny.