The key match-ups in Limerick’s Munster final showdown with Clare 

THERE will be several key match-ups between Limerick and Clare players all over the field in this weekend’s high stakes Munster final showdown. 

Limerick and Clare have been part of some of the best hurling games in the last few games. Since 2020, Limerick have defeated Clare in the last two Munster finals, while the sides have met five times in the round-robin series where Limerick have defeated Clare on three occasions since 2020, while Clare got the better of meighbours Limerick last year and there was nothing to separate the sides in 2022.

In 2020 Limerick defeated Clare in the Munster Senior Hurling quarter-final by ten points, since that meeting three points has been the biggest winning margin between the sides.

Particularly, in the last two years there has been a fericious intensity and the games has been breathtaking and this Sunday will be no different.

Tickets for the Munster decider sold out very quickly and there will be a huge demand for the supporters of the Limerick and Clare to get their hands on tickets.

The action gets underway this Sunday, June 9 at 4pm in Semple Semple, Thurles. The Tipperary town will be full of colour and it will be an atmosphere for fans to relish. A victory for Limerick will see John Kiely’s side complete a historic six-in-a-row which no county has ever achieved in Munster, while it would be provincial success for Clare for the first time since 1998.

The winners will advance to the All-Ireland semi-final on July 7. The losers will face Wexford or the loser of the Joe McDonagh cup final (Laois or Offaly) on June 22 in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Leader Sport’s Paul Shaughnessy looks at the crucial match-ups between Limerick and Clare.

John Kiely will go with more or less the same starting XV but one corncern will be the fitness of Seamus Flanagan. Flanagan limped off with a hamstring injury against Waterford and could be in a race against time to be fit for this Sunday. If that’s the case could Shane O’Brien get his first start in the Munster championship?

Similar to John Kiely, you would expect Brian Lohan to stick with the players who got him, here but the one big question will be does Tony Kelly start for the Banner county. Here we look at three crucial match-ups.

Dan Morrissey vs Shane O’Donnell
Clare’s Shane O’Donnell has been one of the best forwards in the country, whether it’s contributing scores or setting up scores and Dan Morrissey marked him in Ennis and you would expect Morrissey will pick him up again in Sunday’s big decider.

Cian Lynch vs David Fitzgerald
Both players are vital to their sides chances of success next Sunday. Fitzgerald chipped in with three points against Tipperary in Clare’s last game in the Munster SHC. Lynch looked back to his best against Waterford winning some key turnovers which resulted in him linking the play to set up some important scores and Limerick will be hoping for similar performance from Lynch.

Gearoid Hegarty vs Cian Galvin
Towering half-forward Hegarty has caused Clare huge problems in their past meetings and his constant movement will cause Cian Galvin plenty of problems on Sunday.