If Limerick advance past the beaten Leinster semi-finalist, they will be back in action on July 19, with either Galway or Waterford the likely opponents. All in all Limerick will now have to win five games if they are to go one better than last season and lift the Liam McCarthy Cup. The Limerick management are to meet tonight to plan for the next three weeks.
"We will meet and try and go forward from here. It won't be easy, but it is our job to do it," said a downbeat Bennis after yesterday's 1-16 to 4-12 loss to Clare.
"They have had enough of pit falls," said the Limerick manager.
"It will be hard to lift this team now, but we will have to do it."
Bennis added: "It was easier to go through that back door last year because we had a good win against Tipperary behind us".
The Limerick boss sought no excuses after the five-point defeat, but was clearly angered by a number of mistakes from his side.
"We held them fairly well in the first-half, but they got two goals - I'd say against the run of play - and they also got two goals in the second-half, which I also thought were against the run of play. Very sloppy goals, the two in the second-half particularly - we were caught ball-watching big time," he sighed.
"But that's the way it goes, they deserved their victory and I wish them well in the Munster final."
Clare's Munster final will take place in Limerick's Gaelic Grounds on July 13 against Tipperary while there is little rest for the Limerick players with most in county championship action next weekend with their clubs.
The Limerick management will be interested spectators, keeping a watchful eye on some of their injured players in particular.
It was felt that Brian Geary and Denis Moloney were both short of match sharpness to be considered for starting berths against Clare in Thurles - the duo both underwent cruciate ligament operations last autumn.
Meanwhile Adare pair Wayne McNamara and Conor Fitzgerald were unavailable yesterday due to injury and their progress will also be monitored ahead of next month's qualifiers.
The only positive from Limerick's trip to Thurles yesterday was the 1-16 to 0-15 win for the intermediate hurlers over Clare.
Limerick, with Ciaran Carey in their ranks, now advance to the Munster final against Tipperary on July 23.