CLARE v LIMERICK Clare v Limerick has always been one of hurling's great rivalries and the latest instalment promises to be as interesting and as competitive as ever.  Clare and Limerick didn't meet in the championship for ten years between 1996 and 2006 and now they meet for the third successive year. Limerick were comfortable winners in last year's All-Ireland quarter-final while Clare were runaway winners in a qualifier tie a year earlier. Clare, who beat Waterford by nine points in the quarter-final on June 1, are attempting to reach the Munster final for the first time since 1999 while Limerick were in last year's final where they lost to Waterford. LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES 2007: Limerick 1-23 Clare 1-16 (All-Ireland quarter-final) 2006: Clare 2-21 Limerick 0-10 (All-Ireland qualifiers) 1996: Limerick 1-13 Clare 0-15 (Munster semi-final) 1995: Clare 1-17 Limerick 0-11 (Munster final) 1994: Limerick 0-25 Clare 2-10 (Munster final) LEAGUE BOOST FOR LIMERICK Limerick have already beaten Clare this year, winning a National League game in the Gaelic Grounds by 2-15 to 0-12 on 9 March last. Clare went into a six point lead in the first 15 minutes but Limerick rallied impressively to run out easy winners. Limerick: B Murray; D Reale,'s Lucey,'s Hickey; Maurice O'Brien, P O'Dwyer (0-2), M Foley (0-2); D O'Grady (0-1); Mike O'Brien; M Fitzgerald (0-1), O'Moran (0-1),'s Lavin; A O'Shaughnessy (1-2),'s O'Connor (1-1), P Tobin. Subs:  M O'Riordan for Maurice O'Brien, N Moran (0-2) for Lavin, D Ryan (0-1) for Tobin, W McNamara (0-1) for Mike O'Brien, B Foley (0-1) for Fitzgerald. Clare: P Brennan;'t Keogh, F Lohan, G O'Grady; P Donnellan,'t Holland, J McInerney; B O'Connell, C Lynch (0-1); J Clancy (0-2), D Barrett (0-1), T Carmody (0-2), N Gilligan (0-3), B Nugent, M Flaherty (0-3). Subs: B Bugler for McInerney; F Lynch for Nugent, G Arthur for Flaherty, M Murphy for Barrett. Tweet

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