Kilkenny v Limerick preview:After a disappointing start to the league, the weekend brought some welcome context for Kilkenny.

Ballyhale's emphatic win in the All-Ireland senior club final means there will be no complications in getting a few of them involved with the county and Dublin's startling win over Galway casts a different light on Kilkenny's recent draw at Parnell Park.

Limerick are under-strength in the absence of long-term absentee, the luckless Denis Moloney, Brian Geary and Ollie Moran.

That's a bit of a burden for Richie Bennis's team, as they travel to face a Kilkenny side for whom a note of urgency has entered the campaign.

Kilkenny v Limerick - Nowlan Park Today, 2.30pm