Over nine months later Limerick are back in championship action this Sunday (4.00pm) in Semple Stadium, Thurles. There is nothing like a Munster senior hurling championship semi-final against old rivals Clare to focus the mind. Tipperary await the winners in the provincial final on July 13 while the loser must navigate the qualifiers.
While Limerick will not finalise their team until after training this Thursday evening in the Gaelic Grounds a number of changes are expected from last September's All-Ireland final line-up.
All-Star Brian Murray will be in goals, with Damien Reale, Stephen Lucey, Seamus Hickey and Mark Foley all certainties in defence. Reale, Lucey and captain Foley will fill their 'usual' positions. 2007 Young Hurler of the Year, Hickey could be switched to wing-back, with Mark O'Riordan an option at corner-back. Peter Lawlor and Denis Moloney are other options in this sector, but the key defensive choice is at centre-back.
It is understood that Brian Geary will not start as he is not 100% match fit after his battle back from a cruciate ligament operation therefore Paudie O'Dwyer will start.
Against a physically strong and mobile Clare attack, Limerick must gain early dominance to keep Tony Griffin, Tony Carmody, Niall Gilligan and Diarmuid McMahon under wraps.
In midfield, Donal O'Grady will start, but his partner is open to debate. Mike O'Brien was tried at wing-forward in recent times, but with Wayne McNamara struggling with a shoulder injury, the old partnership may be re-united, although James Ryan is another possibility.
In attack All-Stars Andrew O'Shaughnessy and Ollie Moran could be the only two in the same jerseys as they wore in last September's All-Ireland final.
With his constant battle with knee and ankle injuries forcing Brian Begley out of the squad the attack could be realigned. One of the Ahane duo of Niall Moran and Sean O'Connor will replace Begley on the edge of the square and either could also be accommodated at wing-forward. Also in the frame for wing-forward are Barry Foley and Mike Fitzgerald. The Clare half-back line were impressive against Waterford, but are a largely an inexperienced unit and Limerick must make inroads here. With Shaughs looking likely to wear his familiar number 13 jersey Pat Tobin, Donie Ryan, Donncha Sheehan and Eoin Ryan come into contention for the left corner-forward spot.
"No one wants to lose to their neighbour when bragging rights are on offer," said Gary Kirby this week.
The Patrickswell man was centre-forward when the sides last met in the Munster championship in 1996. Since then, Clare easily won in Ennis during the 2006 qualifiers and last year Limerick beat Clare comfortably in an All-Ireland quarter-final in Croke Park.
One thing is certain about this Sunday, nothing will come easy.
In the words of Kirby: "We need to play with the intensity of last year and probably up it another bit".