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Preview: Munster SFC - Clare v Limerick

The 2017 Munster Senior Football Championship begins for Clare and Limerick on Sunday as they face off for a place in the Semi-Finals - GAA.ie gets insights from both Eoin Cleary (Clare) and Donal O'Sullivan (Limerick) as to what they expect come throw-in time on Sunday in Cusack Park, Ennis (3.30pm). Tickets for Clare vs Limerick in Ennis are available from selected SuperValu and Centra stores nationwide and from the venue on matchday - U16's are just €5 with adult tickets priced at €20/25/30 - visit http://www.gaa.ie/tickets/where-to-buy/ to find a SuperValu and Centra store closest to you!

Sunday May 28

Munster SFC Quarter-Final

Clare v Limerick, Cusack Park, 3.30pm

Clare want to keep progressing. Reaching the All Ireland SFC Quarter-Final and maintaining Allianz Football League Division Two status offers considerable evidence about how Colm Collins has developed the Banner boys.

Encouragement was taken from the League, especially the win over Cork, but Collins is simply focused on delivering in the Championship.

"A lot of the displays in the League were in fits and starts," is Collins' assessment.

"The consistency that you must get at the higher level - that was missing.”

So now the challenge for Clare is to deliver in the Championship again, but Limerick can be rugged opponents.

At the start of their Allianz Football League Division Four campaign Limerick were disappointing losing three matches on the spin.

The response, though, provides Billy Lee's charges with some encouragement as they subsequently reeled off four wins in a row.

Johnny McCarthy, Darragh Treacy, and Seamus O'Carroll are accomplished players, while Paul White is a pacy and promising wing back.

In the 2016 Munster SFC Limerick caused Clare plenty of bother before Collins' outfit prevailed on a 0-16 to 0-13 scoreline at the Gaelic Grounds.

Clare dealt with the burden of expectancy fairly well last year with Gary Brennan excellent at centrefield.

The exciting Keelan Sexton continues to impress in attack for Clare, who feel that they can take further strides.

Collins is a shrewd operator, though, and will know that Limerick carry a threat in this fixture. Having enjoyed such a productive campaign Clare will be confident about embarking on another journey.

Limerick boss Billy Lee has named two Championship debutants, Daniel Daly and David Ward, from Fr Caseys.

**LIMERICK: **Donal O'Sullivan; Daniel Daly, Johnny McCarthy, Sean O'Dea; Paul White, Iain Corbett, Brian Fanning; Darragh Treacy, David Ward; Peter Nash, James Naughton, Garrett Noonan; Seamus O'Carroll, Danny Neville, Ger Collins.