Munster derby to kick off season

The most eye-catching of the opening day fixtures for the 2013 Airtricity League Premier Division will see Thomond Park play host to the meeting of Limerick and Cork City.

Limerick, who have still to name a new manager in what has turned into a prolonged succession race to replace Pat Scully, will begin next season playing their home games at Munster Rugby headquarters in advance of their planned return to the refurbished Markets Field.

Drogheda United’s Mick Cooke is now being strongly linked with the vacant post at Limerick but, whoever ends up with the job, the ambitious and newly promoted club could hardly have wished for a bigger crowd-pulling start in the top-flight than the visit of Cork City, whose travelling support will swell the attendance for what will be an especially high profile Munster derby.