*Podge Collins is back in contention. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Clare have never lost to Limerick in the championship under Colm Collins despite four consecutive provincial meetings between 2015-18. It’s an enviable record that the Banner cannot boast against any other county as not since 2009 have the Shannonside derby honours gone to the Treaty County.
However, as Clare bid for a sixth successive victory over their nearest neighbours, there is a more anxious feel to this fixture as Limerick enter in perhaps their best form to date, having stormed to promotion from Division 3 last month.
Not since 2007 have Billy Lee’s side played their trade in the second tier and ore significantly it’s the first time in five years that Clare and Limerick are on an even keel in terms of their National League status heading into championship.
With only a kick of the ball separating the sides in four of the last five championship meetings, Limerick’s momentum presents a heightened challenge that will need to be quashed as early as possible on Saturday evening.
After all, with the stars aligning in the draw to ensure that Cork and Kerry clashed in the opposite side of the draw, Clare can’t afford to pass up another rare opportunity at reaching a first Munster Final since 2012.
For all the strides made under Cratloe clubman Collins to catapult the Banner from languishing in Division 4 to the most consistent side in Division 2 not to mention contenting an All-Ireland Quarter-Final in Croke Park in 2016 along with touching distance of the Super 8’s in 2019, a Munster title or even a final place has eluded Clare, something which should be rectified this summer.
The last time this opportunity presented itself was in 2020, with Clare’s hopes crushingly dashed at the very first hurdle when blitzed by a Tipperary side that would pour salt in the wound by soaring to a first provincial senior crown in 85 years.
Tipperary have never reached those heights since while Waterford have made any major strides in the intervening period either so Limerick present the biggest current threat to Clare’s progression on Saturday evening.
What has impacted Clare most in the last few National League outings was an incremental build up of injuries that threatened to derail their championship challenge.
The ten strong casualty list that included both of Collins’ sons Sean and Podge has predominantly lessened ahead of Saturday’s derby opener but worryingly top-scorer Keelan Sexton appears to have lost the race against time.
It does open the door for other to put their hands up though as the Banner arguably have a strong bench to be able to influence matters when required.
While Limerick undoubtedly possess the greater momentum and have been developing consistently under Billy Lee who is now in his sixth term in charge, they have yet to beat Kerry, Cork or Clare in their championship quest and consequently will be gunning to rectify that on Saturday evening.
Clare haven’t themselves won’t a provincial match since 2019 but their six year stint in Division 2 has more than prepared them for any excepted ambush. Indeed, that experience could be crucial in another inch-tight ground war with Limerick in which the Banner will require the boost of home advantage to get them over the line once more.
