PREVIEW: Dublin v Limerick- All-Ireland SHC Quarter Final

Dublin and Limerick battle it out for a place in the last four when they meet at Croke Park this Saturday in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final (throw-in 4pm).

Dublin picked up wins against Offaly, Wexford and Antrim in the Leinster Championship, before two defeats against Kilkenny and Galway cost them a place in the Leinster final.

They bounced back straight away last weekend with a win over Leinster neighbours and Joe McDonagh Cup winners Kildare.

A fast start by the Dubs caught the Lilys off guard, with Seán Currie and Ronan Hayes getting Dublin going- the latter scoring a ninth-minute goal. Things would get better for those of a sky blue persuasion when Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing scored a second Dublin goal a few minutes later.

Kildare didn’t have an answer to the relentless Dublin attack, and by the referee’s half-time whistle, we had a 15-point advantage.

Rian McBride and Brian Hayes helped Dublin pick up from where they finished the first-half, and by the time Fergal Whitley scored Dublin’s third in the 65th minute, the game had been over as a contest for a good while.

Currie finished as our top scorer with eight points for himself, with five of those scores coming from frees. But he and his teammates know they have the toughest of tests ahead of them at GAA HQ this weekend in the form of Limerick.

The two counties haven’t met since 2015 in championship action; Dublin were victorious that day but now find themselves up against a different animal that is used to winning trophies.

They won four All-Ireland titles in-a-row between 2020 and 2023, and their drive for five was stopped last year in a last-four clash with beaten finalists Cork.

They were going for seven Munster senior hurling titles in-a-row this year, but once again, their silverware ambitions met an end at the hands of Cork.

The Treaty will be determined not to finish the season without a trophy and, as a result, will throw the kitchen sink at Dublin on Saturday afternoon.

Aaron Gillane is currently Limerick’s top scorer with 2-32. He and his teammates, David Reidy, Cian Lynch and Tom Morrissey, bring plenty of talent and experience to their attack.

Dublin, meanwhile, will be looking to Seán Currie to continue his imperious form this season. He is the second top scorer in the championship overall with 4-52 and will be looking to keep his form going this weekend.

Dublin last reached the All-Ireland semi-final back in 2013 and were beaten by Cork. Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s men will give it their all to end that wait for another semi-final appearance this weekend.

You can buy tickets for this Saturday’s big game here.

The game will also be shown on RTÉ 2 at 4pm.

Dublin v Limerick recent All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship meetings:

●      11th July 2015, Semple Stadium, All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Qualifier - Dublin 1-17 (20) - 1-16 (19) Limerick

●      24th July 2011, Semple Stadium, All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final - Dublin 3-13 (22) - 0-18 (18) Limerick

●      26th July 2009, Semple Stadium, All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final - Limerick 2-18 (24) - 1-17 (20) Dublin.