A trip out to Cusack Park, Ennis to meet Clare in an ESB Munster MFC play-off is on the cards for Limerick this Wednesday (6.30pm).

John Colbert's side were outgunned by holders Cork, 2-13 to 0-10, in the opening round proper and will now face the banner, who were themselves beaten by Kerry at home, for a place in the quarter-final proper against the losers of Tipperary and Waterford. A real incentive for Limerick, Clare and either Tipp or Waterford is that they will avoid the big guns and one of them will be assured of a place in the provincial showdown.

In their outing with Cork at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick turned-in a respectable showing, most notably in the opening-half, but still trailed 1-8 to 0-6 at the interval. Still, for the most part the visitors were than bit slicker in their movement, dominated in key areas and were capable of timely scores through the likes of Ciaran Sheehan, Eoin Buckley and Cian Fleming.

On the night, Limerick were far too reliant on Paraic McEnery of county champions Fr. Casey's for their scores, highlighted by his immense contribution of seven-points. Ciaran Joyce-Power landed a couple of decent efforts and world handball champion Seamus O'Carroll (Cappagh) kicked a point, but overall played a fine hour's football. In the closing quarter, Limerick rearranged their pack completely, a sure indication of changes ahead for the mid-week trip eastwards.

Clare boss Michael Considine put his team's heavy loss to Kerry (1-10 to 0-6) down to the lack of belief. "We lacked belief, particularly in the first-half," he said. "But that's the problem in Clare – they saw the Kerry jersey." It should be a much more level playing field when Considine's side entertain Limerick, with the visitors having the potential to gain a prized scalp.

Limerick's opening round was moved out of Newcastle West to the Gaelic Grounds only a short few days in advance, after opposition secretary, Frank Murphy, pointed-out that the venue was not a designated county ground. Fearful, perhaps, of the potential of an upset he objected to the West Limerick venue and was successful on this front with the Munster Council.

The home county had no choice but to move the fixture to a county ground, either Pairc na nGael, Bruff of Kilmallock's Fitzgerald Park and opted for the former.

Not surprisingly, Newcastle West were none too happy to lose the match, even if its financial reward would have been minimal.

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