Limerick and Cork to meet in Munster Hurling League re-fixture:

Limerick and Cork to meet in Munster Hurling League re-fixture:

By John Keogh Limerick Leader Sport

LIMERICK and Cork face off at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale this evening with a place in the Co-op Superstores Munster Hurling League at stake.

A win or draw for John Kiely’s side will see them reach the final of the competition, while Cork need a victory to set up a decider against Waterford this coming Sunday.

Limerick began the compititon with a five-point win over Clare in Clarecastle a week ago and will be looking to continue their league preparation with another impressive performance on Wednesday evening.

Kiely has made 10 changes with a big part of his squad playing for UL and Mary Immaculate College in the Fitzgibbon Cup at the same time as the game with Cork.

Colin Coughlan, Fergal O’Connor, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Adam English and Paddy O’Donovan are part of the UL squad this year, while Shane O’Brien is with Mary Immaculate.

Limerick gave a total of eight players their senior inter-county debuts in Clarecastle last week and the majority are likely to see further action against Cork.

Emmet McEvoy and Ethan Hurley both started the game, while David Fitzgerald, Joe Fitzgerald, Luke Flynn, Liam Lynch, Mike Keane and Darragh Langan all came off the bench in the second half.

Kiely has made 10 changes to that team with Ronan Lyons and Donal Coughlan making their senior inter-county debuts. David McCarthy, Aaron Costello, Ronan Connolly, Gearóid Hegarty, David Reidy, Conor Boylan and Oisin O’Reilly also come into the team from the one that beat Clare a week ago, while Flynn starts.
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Cork overcame the same opposition at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday evening and Pat Ryan is also likely to experiment with his starting lineup for the game at Mick Neville Park.

Conor Lehane’s goal was the difference between the sides and the Rebels also had debutants Brion Saunderson playing well on his debut in goals, while Robbie Cotter landed four points from play on his first outing with the senior side.

Limerick are in the midst of preparing for their opening Allianz Hurling League game with Antrim on February 4. The game with Cork in Rathkeale has a 7pm start tonight. The full panel for the game is as follows:

LIMERICK: David McCarthy (Glenroe); Ronan Lyons (Monaleen), Emmet McEvoy (Na Piarsaigh), Aaron Costello (Kilmallock); Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West), Ronan Connolly (Adare), Ciarán Barry (Ahane); Micheál Houlihan (Kilmallock), Barry Murphy (Doon); Gearóid Hegarty (St Patrick’s), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca), Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh); Donal Coughlan (Doon), Luke Flynn (Granagh-Ballingarry), Oisin O’Reilly (Kilmallock).

SUBS: Jamie Power (Monaleen), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Joe Fitzgerald (Monaleen), David Fitzgerald (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Mike Keane (Adare), Darragh Langan (Monaleen), Liam Lynch (Mungret St Paul’s), Evan O’Leary (Ahane).