Limerick hold onto second place in hurling league

A Superior scoring difference has Limerick in second position in Division 1B of the Allianz National Hurling League.

After three rounds, Limerick have two wins to their credit and rest a point behind unbeaten Tippeary.  Galway also have four points, but trail Limerick on the scoring difference chart (Limerick plus 13, compared to plus four for Galway). 

GOING FOR IT: Michael Fitzgerald, Limerick Senior Hurling Team, makes a breakthrough in the Clare defence at the Gaelic Grounds last Sunday. Picture: Keith Wiseman

With Limerick expected to collect maximum points from their visit to Offaly next weekend and Galway predicted to do likewise on their visit to Laois, the likely scenario is that the concluding home fixture with the westerner’s at the Gaelic Grounds will be of crucial importance in terms of qualification for the knock-out stages of the pennant competition.

The final round of games is listed for the weekend after next.

“Very much so,” commented manager Richie Bennis when questioned was he pleased with Limerick’s current form.  “We expected to have four league points after three games and we have that, and while results elsewhere (Galway and Tipperary drawing for example) might have helped us a little we’re very happy with our standing in the league.”

He added:  “Our aim is to qualify for the knock-out stages, and if achieve that we’ll be very happy.  It’s very important for us to qualify for the semi-finals, as there is a big gap between the end of the league and the championship, and more so in our case as we’ve a bye in the semi-final of the Munster Championship. It’s all in our own hands now.”

“Sooner or later we had to start getting it right and I thought we used the wind to good effect in the second-half.  And, I think Clare accepted the result as being inevitable long before the finish as they brought in subs at random where as we genuinely wanted to win that match – from here on we aim to win every one of our matches.”

Offaly were caught be Laois last time-out and are not fancied to bounce back with victory over an improving Limerick XV, even with home advantage.