Fri. Feb 7th, 2025

Limerick team named for National Hurling League opener in Cork

Barry Murphy at corner back is one of the standout selections from John Kiely. Credits: Sport Action Photography
It’s a mix of youth and experience for Limerick in their first Allianz Hurling League match

John Kiely has named his Limerick team for Saturday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash with Cork at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Plenty of fringe players will get the opportunity to impress Kiely and the management team with just seven players who started in the All-Ireland semi-final last July in the lineup.

Jason Gillane starts in goals over the returning Shane Dowling in the battle to replace the injured Nickie Quaid. The Patrickswell club man will have a strong spine in front of him with Dan Morrissey and Kyle Hayes at full and centre back. Barry Murphy lines out at corner back opposite Sean Finn while Diarmuid Byrnes and Colin Coughlan flank Hayes.

In midfield, Doon’s Adam English partners William O’Donoghue while Gearoid Hegarty and new captain Cian Lynch are joined by young forwards Aidan O’Connor, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Shane O’Brien, and Patrick O’Donovan who will all look to force their way into Kiely’s plans for the season ahead.

Limerick will have plenty of experience to call upon with Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, and David Reidy all ready to come in and contribute with the match in the melting pot.

TG4 will have live coverage of the match on the TG4 Player and TG4 App from 7:25 pm on Saturday night, ahead of throw-in at 7:30 pm.

Limerick:

Jason Gillane (Patrickswell); 
Sean Finn (Bruff), Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Barry Murphy (Doon); 
Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown); 
Adam English (Doon), William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh); 
Gearoid Hegarty (St Patricks), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown); 
Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen), Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock), Patrick O’Donovan (Effin). 

Subs: Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh), Micheal Houlihan (Kilmallock), Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West), Darragh Langan (Monaleen), Fergal O’Connor (Effin), David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca), Cian Scully (Dromin-Athlacca), Eddie Stokes (Doon).

Cork:

Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); 
Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers); 
Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers, c), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum); 
Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville); 
Ethan Twomey (St Finbarr’s), Shane Kingston (Douglas), Shane Barrett (Blarney); 
Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s), Pádraig Power (Blarney), Alan Connolly (Blackrock).

Subs: Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Mark Coleman (Blarney), Micheál Mullins (Whitechurch), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Conor Lehane (Midleton), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Robbie Cotter (Blackrock).