Half of those final appearances came over 100 years ago and therefore the magnitude of the opportunity available to Limerick this Sunday cannot be underestimated.
Clare stand between Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s side and a third Munster final appearance this decade.
Cusack Park in Ennis hosts the eagerly awaited semi-final, which has a 4pm start.
Limerick were to travel to Ennis this Wednesday evening for a kick around in Cusack Park and afterwards O’Sullivan and selectors; Joe Redington and Paddy Ivess were expected to announce an unchanged Limerick team.
The game will come too soon for Stephen Kelly, who remains in a cast with a broken bone in his hand.
The Newcastle West man is due back in hospital in the next week, when the cast will be removed. There may be positional switches to the Limerick team, but the starting 15 should be the same of that which overcame Tipperary 1-11 to 1-9.
That quarter-final win in Thurles helped to erase the memories of relegation in the National Footbal League.
The task now facing captain Seanie Buckley and colleagues is to reproduce the opening half performance in Semple Stadium.
Clare are managed by Galway man Frank Doherty.
Back in September 2005, when Mickey Ned O’Sullivan succeeded Liam Kearns as Limerick manager, Caltra’s All-Ireland club winning manager was understood to be on the shortlist along with Páidí Ó Sé, Ger Lawlor, John Kennedy and Moss McCarthy.
The Clare management will be well aware of Limerick’s midfield prowess, but yet it is vital that John Galvin and Jim O’Donovan gain an upperhand. In defence, Shane Gallagher could be faced with targetman Timmy Ryan, who he played against when Ballysteen faced Kilmihil in the Munster intermediate club championship last Autumn. Also in the full forward line for Clare will be leading scorer, Daryl Tubridy and Johnny McCarthy could be the man for the Doonbeg attacker. Clare could select a physical half forward line and Stephen Lavin and Pa Ranahan could have an opportunity to surge forward from wing-back.
Former Clare manager Donie Buckley is the Limerick coach and his expertise in working with forwards could be key. Ian Ryan and Buckley will look to be more involved, with Jason Stokes the main ball winner last time out with Ger Collins the main scorer.
Limerick are well aware that Clare are ‘sitting in the long grass’. If the focus is correct Limerick should book their place behind the band on Munster final day on July 5. If it’s a Limerick v Kerry decider, the Gaelic Grounds will be the venue, while if it’s Limerick v Cork, Pairc Ui Chaoimh will host the final.
Clare are looking to end the decade as they started – in a Munster football final. Current selector James Hanrahan was in goals back in 2000, while Conor Whelan and David Russell continue to soldier in the saffron and blue.
Limerick’s line-up will have Mark O’Riordan, Johnny McCarthy, Stephen Lavin, Jason Stokes, John Galvin, who all played against Kerry in Limerick’s last provincial final appearance in 2004.
Their experience will be key as the pressure will all be on Limerick.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s side are favourites and rightly so, but that’s not often a tag that sits easy on the shoulders of a side that is usually comfortable as an underdog.
Although Limerick are favoured to advance, followers of those in green and white will recall two recent meetings of the counties when victory went to The Banner.
Back in January 2008, Clare lifted the McGrath Cup when a late penalty from Daryl Tubridy got Frank Doherty’s reign off to a winning start.
That game was in Cooraclare - the same venue as this season’s meeting of the sides in the provincial U21 championship.
Hurling
Limerick report no late injuries ahead of the June 14 Munster senior hurling championship semi-final against Waterford. Panelists Mike O’Brien (broken hand), Seamus Hickey (shoulder), David Breen (hamstring) and Mike Fitzgerald (hamstring) were all unable to play any part with their respective clubs in championship action last weekend.
Limerick played Clare in a challenge game in the Gaelic Grounds this Tuesday night and the quartet were again unavailable.
However, Justin McCarthy and his management are hopeful that they will be selecting from a full squad next week.
It has been confirmed that the Limerick v Waterford MSHC game will be an all-ticket game. The game has a 4.00 start and will be televised live on RTE.
Tickets have already been distributed to the 70 GAA clubs of the county and are available to purchase on the Munster GAA website and at the office in the Gaelic Grounds.
Jerome O’Connell
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