Indeed, just James O’Brien, David Breen, Paul Browne and Tadhg Flynn have previously started a Munster senior hurling championship game.
Goalkeeper Flynn is the only one to have played against Cork in the Munster SHC - in 2004 he won many plaudits for his display when Cork were 4-19 to 1-7 winners over his native Kerry.
After a winter of discontent on Shannonside, Justin McCarthy brings his vastly changed team to face his native county.
After the humbling 24-point defeat to Tipperary in last season’s All-Ireland semi-final, all knew that changes would be needed as McCarthy embarked on the second of his two years in charge.
However, after months of boardroom wranglings, panel changes and player withdrawals, Limerick arrive in Pairc Ui Chaoimh with just six players from the panel that played in the county’s last championship game last August - Bryan O’Sullivan, Graeme Mulcahy, Paudie McNamara, David Breen, Paul Browne and James O’Brien.
Moulding such an inexperienced group of players into a championship unit was always going to be a daunting task for McCarthy and his selectors.
Numerous attempts were made for reconciliation, but 12 players initially wanted by the management remained outside of the fold.
Household names like Brian Geary, Seamus Hickey, Gavin O’Mahony, Damien Reale and Donal O’Grady were among this list and their absence would be a blow to any inter-county side.
Relegation was Limerick’s lot in the National Hurling League campaign which didn’t inspire confidence as attendances at games dropped and a general air of apathy engulfed Limerick GAA.
There is no doubt that Limerick face an uphill battle on Sunday, in a game that will be televised live on TV3. Cork may not display the same intensity that they did against Tipperary in round one, but regardless Limerick can not match their vast experience, their fitness or physical stature.
Limerick players and management did hurt after the 31-point low to Dublin in the final round of the NHL. Lessons will have to be learned from that contest.
Cork will, as always, have their half-back line as their launch pad and Limerick will need a massive work rate in an effort to unsettle the impressive unit of Gardiner, Curran and O’hAilpin.
In attack, Cork can score from distance and in the inside line they have Aisake O’hAilpin. The display of the towering full-forward against Tipperary prompted a rethink from the Limerick management. All indications now are that David Breen will be handed the number three jersey in a switch from the attacking role he filled last season. The Na Piarsaigh man will follow in the footsteps of his brother Kieran, who played full-back against Clare in the All-Ireland Qualifiers in 2006.
Either side of Breen it is expected that Shane O’Neill (South Liberties) and Kieran O’Rourke (Bruree) will complete the final line of defence in front of goalkeeper Tadhg Flynn (Ahane).
Team captain Bryan O’Sullivan (Kilmallock) and Paul Browne (Bruff) could also make the switch from attack to defence.
O’Sullivan has played centre-back in recent challenge games and his wing-backs could be Browne with Lorcan O’Dwyer (Pallasgreen) or Sean O’Riordan.
If O’Riordan gets the nod it will bring him into direct opposition with his Newtown-Shandrum club-mates Ben & Jerry O’Connor and Cathal Naughton.
Midfield is likely to include Andrew Brennan (Caherline) and Thomas O’Brien (Patrickswell), with O’Dwyer, O’Riordan and Nicky Quaid (Effin) also in the reckoning. In attack Paudie McNamara (Murroe-Boher) and James O’Brien (Bruree) will take their place in the half-forward line, where other options are Sean Herlihy (Monagea) and Cathal Mullane (Killeedy).
Anthony Owens (South Liberties) should be full forward with lively duo Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock) and Richie McKeogh (Kildimo) in the two corners.
Intermediate hurling
Meanwhile John Kiely’s intermediate team was selected after training this Tuesday night.
Three players from the extended senior panel have been made available - Mike Noonan and Liam Costello from Adare and Tommy O’Brien from Bruree.
Limerick: Aaron Murphy (Hospital-Herbertstown), Mike Keane (Staker Wallace), Edward Kiely (Doon), Conor Noonan (Feohangh); Dinny Ahern (Kilteely-Dromkeen), Richie McCarthy, capt (Blackrock), John Riordan (Templeglantine); John Dillon (Effin), Don Hanley (Knockaderry); Gary Murphy (Caherline), Mike Noonan (Adare), Tommy Quaid (Effin); Peter Harty (Patrickswell), Tommy O’Brien (Bruree), Liam Costello (Adare).
Subs: Shane O’Donoghue (Adare), Conor Kearney (Effin), Paudie Leahy (Staker Wallace), Damien Moloney (Effin), Thomas Crawford (Glenroe), Willie Griffin (Adare), Damien Quaid (St Marys Sean Finns), Aidan McAuliffe (Castletown-Ballyagran), Dermot McCarthy (Staker Wallace), Anthony Harnett (Tournafulla), Shane Bulfin (Bruff), Mikey Kiely (Ballybrown).
Jerome O’Connell
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