Shadow Limerick side face test from Slaneysiders

EMBATTLED Limerick senior hurling manager Justin McCarthy is set to run the rule over his experimental panel in a challenge match against Wexford on Saturday.

The game is a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland qualifier between the sides as McCarthy and his opposite number Colm Bonnar step up preparations ahead of the new competitive season.

McCarthy is currently planning for the 2010 season with just six of the 30-man panel that was present for last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat against Tipperary.

In contrast, Bonnar is strengthened by the return of long-term injury victims Tomás Waters and Colm Farrell. Eoin Quigley could be ready for a return from cruciate ligament damage towards the end of February.

Limerick and Wexford are set to do battle on neutral soil at Cork venue Mallow. There will be much interest in the make-up of McCarthy’s team.

Cork native McCarthy will use the weekend fixture to assess a host of prospective new Limerick seniors as he looks to finalise a panel for the forthcoming Waterford Crystal Cup and National Hurling League campaigns.

The Limerick game is one of two challenge matches lined up by Wexford for the coming weekend, with Kilkenny and Leinster club hurling champions Ballyhale Shamrocks due to visit Horeswood on Sunday.

Bonnar will be anxious for his players to get some game time as early season training has been severely disrupted by the poor weather conditions.

Wexford trained collectively last night for just the third time since January 1 as they look towards the Walsh Cup showdown with UCD or Antrim on January 31.

Bonnar said: “These will be two good games to get the lads focused. Tomás Waters and Colm Farrell are back while Eoin Quigley is still working with the physio and is 80 to 90% right. It will be the end of February before he can really test it out.”