Clare and Limerick need to show their intent

Munster SHC Quarter-final
Clare v Limerick
Semple Stadium, Sunday, 4pm
RTÉ 2

Distraction appears to be the keynote mood in preparations for both counties with injuries and suspension meaning that neither side will be at full strength. There is also the nagging realisation that the weekend’s outcome may not have a huge influence on the championship ambitions of the counties involved.

Then again, both Limerick and Clare need momentum after very disappointing spring campaigns. Recent championship history though suggests that Limerick will lift it.

More complex

Clare’s situation is more complex. Their All-Ireland two years ago came off a late-summer surge and since then they’ve struggled. The flare-up of disharmony in the spring wasn’t a help on top of stuttering displays that ultimately saw them relegated.

In their favour was the very last match, a great battle with a full-strength Kilkenny during which Tony Kelly sparkled and Shane O'Donnell gave notice that, after a litany of injuries, he was finally ready to deliver on the promise of two years ago.

They still lost though, underlining an issue that ran through their league campaign like a tectonic fault: the inability to get over the line in tightly contested matches.

It's shaping up as a fairly defensive contest with Patrick O'Connor ready to play sweeper for Clare and Tom Condon expected to take up sentry duty in front of the Limerick full-back line with Paul Browne playing deep although named at wing forward.

With a full team Limerick would be in with a great chance but TJ Ryan’s side are missing important players. They do however have championship pedigree and in Cian Lynch an exciting debutant but Limerick look too experimental.

Gavin O’Mahony was clearly being rehearsed as a centre forward during the league but finds himself at centre back. Paul Browne, All Star nominee last year at centrefield, is named at wing forward and influential players like Séamus Hickey and Dónal O’Grady are only back from injury. It’s a lot of disruption.

Even with the absentees Clare are well drilled in their system and have a cutting edge in Kelly and O’Donnell as well as a pressing need to get back on track.

THE LOWDOWN
Last meeting: 2013 All-Ireland semi-final, Croke Park, Clare 1-22, Limerick 0-18.
Odds: Clare 11/10, Limerick 10/11 and 10/1 the draw.
Injuries: Clare are set to be without corner forward Conor McGrath, who has been so far unable to shake a hamstring injury picked up in the relegation play-off against Kilkenny. Limerick are without goalkeeper Nickie Quaid, who is still recovering from an aggravated collarbone fracture and wing forward David Breen, who recently broke his leg.
Suspension: Clare's Brendan Bugler is suspended after getting a red card in last year's All-Ireland qualifier defeat by Wexford.
Just the ticket: Covered/uncovered stand, €25/€20, terrace €15 and under-16s €5 (stands and terrace). Limerick have been allocated the Killinan End terrace, Clare the Town End terrace.
Verdict: Clare.
CLARE (possible): P Kelly; C Dillon, D McInerney, D O'Donovan; J Browne, C Ryan, P Donnellan; P O'Connor, G O'Connell; C Ryan, T Kelly, S Golden; J Conlon, S O'Donnell, D Reidy.
LIMERICK: B Hennessy; S Walsh, R McCarthy, S Hickey; S O'Brien, G O'Mahony, T Condon; J Ryan, P O'Brien; D O'Grady, D Hannon, P Browne; G Mulcahy, S Dowling, C Lynch.
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).