Antrim hurlers face a baptism of fire when they take on All Ireland champions Limerick in the opening game of National Hurling League today in Thurles.
With the Saffrons short a host of regulars from the past few years, due to the retirement of Neil McManus, after a long and distinguished career, plus the decision of Dunloy’s Nigel Elliott, Ryan Elliott, Seaan Elliott, Keelan Molloy and Eoin O’Neill all stepping away after two very hard seasons with club and county the season ahead was always going to be very difficult. Things have been made a lot worse with the squad hit by a host of injuries and today’s team will be without regulars Paul Boyle, Eoghan Campbell, James McNaughton, Eoin McFerran and Conal Bohill, most of whom lined out against Dublin in the Walsh Cup two weeks ago.
The new league set-up for the 2025 season means there is going to be no relegation from the top two divisions this season. The top three teams in 1A and 1B, plus the winner of the play off between the fourth team in each group will make up a new seven team Division 1 next season, with those who don’t make the cut forming Division 2.
The Limerick team named for today is well short of the side that won last year’s All Ireland final, which is a little bit of good news, while one other piece of good news for Saffron fans travelling to the game is that it is fixed for Semple Stadium in Thurles, rather than Limerick, which cuts 100 miles off the round trip
