Limerick GAA 2023-2024.... 5 in a row is not here (Part 4)

Sport
981

Wha?

It’s been reported on here that NaP think this is the best team in Ireland and the greatest they’ve ever had

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982

It must be true then

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Injuries, old age and both


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Brian Leddin TD is very bullish about this year’s NAP squad. Will bate Doon a point a man in the final he said

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Could he be the Russian?

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Senior Champions Doon Doon Patrickswell Patrickswell Doon Doon Doon Na Piarsaigh Kilmallock Doon Doon Na Piarsaigh Doon Na Piarsaigh Kilmallock Doon Na Piarsaigh Doon Na Piarsaigh Doon Patrickswell Doon Kilmallock Kilmallock Na Piarsaigh Kilmallock Na Piarsaigh Kilmallock Na Piarsaigh Kilmallock Doon Kilmallock Patrickswell Doon Doon Doon Doon Doon Patrickswell Na Piarsaigh
Relegated Senior A Ahane Mungret/St. Paul’s Ahane Mungret/St. Paul’s Ahane Ahane Mungret/St. Paul’s Ahane Mungret/St. Paul’s Ahane Ahane Mungret/St. Paul’s Ahane Mungret/St. Paul’s Ahane Mungret/St. Paul’s Ahane Ahane Mungret/St. Paul’s Mungret/St. Paul’s Mungret/St. Paul’s Ahane Ahane Mungret/St. Paul’s Mungret/St. Paul’s Ahane Ahane Ahane Mungret/St. Paul’s Mungret/St. Paul’s Mungret/St. Paul’s Ahane Mungret/St. Paul’s Mungret/St. Paul’s Mungret/St. Paul’s Mungret/St. Paul’s Ahane Mungret/St. Paul’s Ahane Ahane
Promoted Senior B Monaleen Ballybrown Adare Ballybrown Ballybrown Monaleen Kildimo/Pallaskenry Ballybrown Ballybrown Ballybrown Kildimo/Pallaskenry Adare Adare Monaleen Kildimo/Pallaskenry Monaleen Ballybrown Kildimo/Pallaskenry Ballybrown Monaleen Kildimo/Pallaskenry Monaleen Monaleen Kildimo/Pallaskenry Monaleen Ballybrown Monaleen Kildimo/Pallaskenry Monaleen Adare Monaleen Ballybrown Ballybrown Monaleen Ballybrown Ballybrown Ballybrown Adare Ballybrown Monaleen
Relegated Senior B Kildimo/Pallaskenry Dromin/Athlacca Dromin/Athlacca South Liberties Dromin/Athlacca Dromin/Athlacca South Liberties South Liberties South Liberties South Liberties South Liberties South Liberties South Liberties Dromin/Athlacca Adare Dromin/Athlacca South Liberties Dromin/Athlacca South Liberties Ballybrown Dromin/Athlacca South Liberties South Liberties South Liberties Dromin/Athlacca South Liberties Adare South Liberties South Liberties Dromin/Athlacca South Liberties South Liberties Kildimo/Pallaskenry South Liberties South Liberties South Liberties Kildimo/Pallaskenry Dromin/Athlacca South Liberties South Liberties
Premier Intermediate Champions Garryspillane Garryspillane Garryspillane Garryspillane Garryspillane Garryspillane Bruff Garryspillane Effin Effin Effin Newcastlewest Bruff Newcastlewest Effin Effin Garryspillane Garryspillane Garryspillane Newcastlewest Blackrock Bruff Newcastlewest Garryspillane Bruff Newcastlewest Effin Garryspillane Garryspillane Effin Newcastlewest Garryspillane Newcastlewest Bruff Newcastlewest Garryspillane Newcastlewest Effin Newcastlewest Garryspillane
Relegated Premier Intermediate Glenroe Glenroe Glenroe Granagh/Ballingarry Glenroe Bruff Glenroe Granagh/Ballingarry Granagh/Ballingarry Na Piarsaigh 2 Glenroe Blackrock Granagh/Ballingarry Glenroe Glenroe Na Piarsaigh 2 Glenroe Newcastlewest Granagh/Ballingarry Granagh/Ballingarry Na Piarsaigh 2 Na Piarsaigh 2 Granagh/Ballingarry Glenroe Glenroe Na Piarsaigh 2 Glenroe Glenroe Glenroe Glenroe Glenroe Glenroe Glenroe Na Piarsaigh 2 Glenroe Na Piarsaigh 2 Na Piarsaigh 2 Glenroe Glenroe Bruff
Intermediate Champions Murroe/Boher Croagh/Kilfinny Cappamore Hospital/Herbertstown Croagh/Kilfinny Croagh/Kilfinny Murroe/Boher Hospital/Herbertstown Murroe/Boher Cappamore Murroe/Boher Murroe/Boher Murroe/Boher Feohanagh Croagh/Kilfinny Murroe/Boher Croagh/Kilfinny Knockainey Hospital/Herbertstown Murroe/Boher Croagh/Kilfinny Cappamore Bruree Murroe/Boher Murroe/Boher Cappamore Murroe/Boher Croagh/Kilfinny Croagh/Kilfinny Croagh/Kilfinny Murroe/Boher Croagh/Kilfinny Murroe/Boher Murroe/Boher Murroe/Boher Croagh/Kilfinny Murroe/Boher Croagh/Kilfinny Knockainey Croagh/Kilfinny
Relegated Intermediate Kilmallock 2 Knockainey Kilmallock 2 Pallasgreen Croom St. Kieran’s St. Kieran’s Pallasgreen St. Kieran’s St. Kieran’s Croom Mungret/St. Paul’s 2 Croom Croom Croom Croom St. Kieran’s Hospital/Herbertstown Pallasgreen Feohanagh St. Kieran’s Mungret/St. Paul’s 2 Croom Pallasgreen Croom Croom Croom St. Kieran’s St. Kieran’s Croom Croom St. Kieran’s Croom Croom St. Kieran’s Kilmallock 2 Kilmallock 2 Croom Croom St. Kieran’s
Premier Junior Champions Feenagh/Kilmeedy Feenagh/Kilmeedy St. Patrick’s Caherline Crecora/Manister Knockaderry Feenagh/Kilmeedy Feenagh/Kilmeedy Caherline Feenagh/Kilmeedy Feenagh/Kilmeedy St. Patrick’s Feenagh/Kilmeedy St. Patrick’s Crecora/Manister Crecora/Manister Feenagh/Kilmeedy Crecora/Manister Caherline Crecora/Manister Knockaderry Crecora/Manister Doon 2 Feenagh/Kilmeedy Feenagh/Kilmeedy Crecora/Manister Feenagh/Kilmeedy Feenagh/Kilmeedy Crecora/Manister Crecora/Manister Feenagh/Kilmeedy Crecora/Manister Feenagh/Kilmeedy Feenagh/Kilmeedy Feenagh/Kilmeedy Caherline Feenagh/Kilmeedy Crecora/Manister Feenagh/Kilmeedy Crecora/Manister
Relegated Premier Junior Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Caherline AK Desmonds Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Knockaderry Old Christians Old Christians Old Christians Tournafulla Tournafulla AK Desmonds Old Christians Knockaderry Doon 2 Old Christians
Junior A Champions Killeedy Killeedy Claughaun Patrickswell 2 Patrickswell 2 Castletown/Ballyagran Castletown/Ballyagran Patrickswell 2 Killeedy Patrickswell 2 Ballybricken/Bohermore Killeedy Killeedy Ballybricken/Bohermore Patrickswell 2 Patrickswell 2 Patrickswell 2 Ballybricken/Bohermore Patrickswell 2 Monaleen 2 Killeedy Castletown/Ballyagran Castletown/Ballyagran Castletown/Ballyagran Castletown/Ballyagran Monaleen 2 Patrickswell 2 Castletown/Ballyagran Ballybricken/Bohermore Castletown/Ballyagran Killeedy Monaleen 2 Monaleen 2 Castletown/Ballyagran Killeedy Monaleen 2 Castletown/Ballyagran Castletown/Ballyagran Killeedy Castletown/Ballyagran
Relegated Junior A Blackrock 2 Templeglantine Templeglantine Blackrock 2 Templeglantine Patrickswell 2 Blackrock 2 Templeglantine Blackrock 2 Claughaun Claughaun Garryspillane 2 Blackrock 2 Claughaun Ahane 2 Ahane 2 Blackrock 2 Blackrock 2 Blackrock 2 Garryspillane 2 Blackrock 2 Blackrock 2 Blackrock 2 Ballybricken/Bohermore Bruff 2 Blackrock 2 Ahane 2 Rathkeale Blackrock 2 Blackrock 2 Blackrock 2 Blackrock 2 Blackrock 2 Rathkeale Blackrock 2 Garryspillane 2 Blackrock 2 Blackrock 2 Ahane 2 Patrickswell 2
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987

great work again Aristotle :clap:
 not surprising at this stage to see that there is nobody in with a chance of a clean sweep. i myself have 5 of the 7 confirmed placings so far, 4 still in with a shout and 3 NRs( not surprisingly in the landmine of the junior championships)

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988

Limerick owns this forum. Some wide spread of posters there

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And thats what @rocko will tell the authorities when the time comes.

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I’m the same. I’ve five right but Kilmallock and Effin winning their respective titles will bring me right up. Apologies to @dodgy_keeper for tipping Granagh for the drop.

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Are premier intermediate and senior hurling finals fixed for the Saturday or the Sunday?

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Sunday 27th

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Surely Leddin is more of a rugby football aficionado.

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Reckon im out of contention for at least a joint winner as in previous year. Some bad calls and aack of watching games

996

We’re moving quickly along to the real meaty stuff of Championship. Pure knockout the last day with quarter-finals and relegation finals, and there were some great contests along the way. I only predicted 10/15; everything at Senior, Intermediate & Premier Junior right but managed to get both Junior A quarter-finals wrong. To be fair, I did preface it by saying I hadn’t seen any Junior A matches and that has proven to be my downfall all year. Just want to quickly mention the relegation matches; St. Kieran’s have consigned Kilmallock’s team to relegation and they survive another year. Kilmallock probably didn’t help themselves by burning more players at senior than usual and the conditions did probably suit Kieran’s too. And AK Desmonds had too much for Old Christians, just that little bit more quality in attack. A tough year for them but you’d imagine that it will bring on their young players a lot and it will stand to them next year.

As for this weekend: now, more than ever, the stupidity of not having any matches available on streaming services comes home to roost. There’s not much the county board can do about scheduling when you have 10 semi-finals to play across a weekend, they’ve done as best they can with that really. But all 10 of these matches should 100% be streamed. It’s an awful shame that they’re not as there should be some cracking contests over the weekend across all grades.

Senior

Sunday October 13
Doon (2/5) vs Patrickswell (9/4) @ 1pm in Kilmallock
Kilmallock (11/4) vs Na Piarsaigh (1/3) @ 4pm in Mick Neville Park

The big four are back again and this is where the real stuff starts. There is no doubt that, on form so far, Doon and Na Piarsaigh are justifiably strong favourites in their respective matches. But, as we’ve warned all year, all four of these teams expected to get here and didn’t need to go full throttle in the group matches against each other; there definitely would have been elements of shadow boxing.

But Patrickswell did need to beat Monaleen in a quarter-final and they were unimpressive in doing so. If they play at similar levels this weekend, Doon will dismantle them. But this is knockout hurling and the Well do have some superb players but will need big performances from their county stars. Patrick Kirby has been their other main man this year; he hit 0-3 from play against Doon in the group stage and hit the same tally against Monaleen the last day. He is a real livewire and in the form of his life and is maybe enjoying the freedom allowed as opposition backs tend to focus on Gillane & Lynch. But this is the first real test of Derek McGrath: Doon enjoyed a fantastic group stage, securing a semi-final spot before hitting a blip in the final group game against Ahane, where they were comfortably beaten. That gives McGrath some ammunition to focus the minds for this one. They hit four goals against the Well in the group and although they have lined out with Derek’s famous “plus one”, they have ran the ball from deep with support runners when they regain possession and, maybe in 60 minute club hurling, they have the fitness and energy to sustain that. That’ll be the question in these crunch matches. They have an elite forward in Adam English who has 2-10 from play in five games but, to be fair, has been well-supported from elsewhere. Chris Thomas has been one of the main beneficiaries of the ‘counter-attacking style’ as he’s claimed 3-4 from wing-back, big Darragh Stapleton has hit the exact same tally. I’m assuming that they will be back to full-strength with Pat Simon, Richie English and Donal Coughlan all in contention to start. If they are, I have to go with them. I think they have the most talented squad, they now have the star forward and they must have the hunger. Doon by 5.

The other match also looks to be heavily favouring one team, as Na Piarsaigh fairly comfortably disposed of Kilmallock in the group game. Adrian Breen made a triumphant return in that game, scoring 0-2 from the bench, but then didn’t feature in the last group game. He is expected to play this weekend and there is a certain expectation that we may see Peter Casey for the first time since his horror injury in the Munster Championship. Maybe that is optimistic but, if both are back, Na Piarsaigh will be hard-stopped. Kilmallock were also not that impressive in victory over Ballybrown but Shane O’Brien came up with the goods yet again. 1-5 from play in a county quarter-final is unbelievable scoring, no matter who the opposition is, and it’s not a one-off, he’s been hitting those tallies all year. He is now comfortably the top scorer from play in this year’s Championship, with 4-21 from play in just six games. Graeme Mul also hit 0-4 from play the last day and they’ll be relieved to see him finding form ahead of the biggest games. Chanley hit 0-5 from the bench in just 20 minutes and helped turn the tide, he may fulfil a similar role this weekend, while they’ll also be glad to have got 20 minutes into Oisín O’Reilly who you’d expect to start now, after injury. Tommie Grimes has been some asset for Na Piarsaigh on his return this year but it was Dylan Lynch who stole the headlines in their last fixture with 1-7 from play; he is named to start, as is JJ Carey, but you’d wonder will Adrian Breen get the nod. I think 11/4 is very generous odds for Kilmallock but it’s hard to back against Na Piarsaigh. They haven’t been at their brilliant best but they’re getting players back and there’s no doubting the talent. I’ll go with Na Piarsaigh by 4.

Premier Intermediate

Saturday October 12
Effin (2/1) vs Newcastlewest (2/5) @ 2pm in Kilmallock
Bruff (5/2) vs Garryspillane (3/10) @ 4pm in Kilmallock

A double-header in Kilmallock this afternoon for the Premier Intermediate semi-finals, which should be two cracking contests. NCW had won every game in the group stage, secured top spot but then suffered a blip in their last-round fixture, which didn’t really matter for either side, against Blackrock. Motivation for this weekend or a sign that they’re slipping? They beat Effin by two goals in round 6 which isn’t the easiest gap to overturn and Effin didn’t finish the group stage all that brilliantly themselves, losing to NCW & Bruff in their final two games. We were told that Ethan Hurley was targeting this game to be back from injury and, if he is not, that would be a huge blow. They conceded one goal in their first four games and then seven in the final three. It’s way too simplistic to say that it’s all down to that but losing your county star & centre-back would be a blow to any team. With Hurley in the side, NCW are nicely-balanced; even with those seven goals conceded recently, they have comfortably the best defence in the division and were conceding very low tallies, while getting decent scores at the other end. Not overly reliant on any one player either: Eoin Hurley, Bryan Nix, the two Hayes brothers have all popped up with crucial scores at different stages. In Paddy O’Donovan in particular, Effin have a forward who needs handling but also have county stars in Fergal O’Connor and Nickie Quaid with the other Quaid brothers and Ruairi O’Connor also contributing. I would think it’s fair to say that the gap between Effin’s best player and their 15th best player is a lot bigger than the gap between NCW’s equivalent. I think NCW are the more-rounded, more solid team but Effin have a little bit of stardust. Still, it’s not that NCW are lacking quality and I’d have to back them to edge this based on form so far. NCW by 2.

I think 5/2 is very generous odds for Bruff in the other semi-final. In one sense, it’s fair enough, as the Bouncers beat them by 13 points in the group stage. So, if you were going off that alone, it’s hard to conjure up an argument for Bruff. But, despite that result, the two sides finished level on points so it’s not as if there was a gulf in quality apparent across all seven group fixtures. I actually predicted Bruff to win this Championship at the start of the season. This was on the basis of a talented squad that have probably underachieved in recent seasons, the return of the great Seán Finn and the potential of him playing in the forward line and the addition of some exciting young players like Sean Casey and Tadhg Boddy. They are a young side in general with Paul Browne by far the oldest player; Chris Browne, Eric & Seán Finn the other older heads in the group. However, despite predicting them to win then, I have gone off them a bit for a couple of reasons. Obviously, there was the fallout with their manager, which is never ideal during a season, they have now lost young Boddy and it looks as if Finn has been moved back into 6. Also, probably biggest of all, he went off injured last week
 maybe it was only precautionary but it’s not a good sign considering the injury trouble he has had. On the other side, Garryspillane have had mixed form themselves. But, after two defeats in the row, they finished strongly, beating the two weakest sides in the division but also hammering Bruff. It looks like returning Dylan O’Shea to a more advanced position and letting Mark Quinlan drop into centre-back has given the side a little more balance. O’Shea is such a gifted hurler and I think he needs to be in a position where he has licence to get forward and contribute to the scoreboard. Young Hugh Flanagan has taken on the responsibility of frees in his first year on the panel and is also getting scores from play, a player I really like. In general, they seem to be contributing a lot of resources to attack with goalscorers like Colin Ryan and Calum Sheehan inside and the likes of Ryanie Tobin & Bryan Heavey in that half-forward line. I don’t think we’ll see a repeat of the group game, I think this will be tight and I do think there is value in the 5/2. Having said all that, I fancy the Bouncers to get the job done by 3.

Intermediate

Saturday October 12
Bruree (7/4) vs Murroe/Boher (1/2) @ 4.30pm in Fedamore
Croagh/Kilfinny (1/5) vs Feohanagh (7/2) @ 4.30pm in Newcastlewest

Murroe/Boher are favourites for this one despite Bruree winning the group game. I think that is fair enough in the sense that Murroe/Boher were already through in that game and Bruree had to win. But that level of performance will be nowhere near good enough for a semi-final. Bruree dogged it out that day and they dogged it out against Knockainey aswell. Conditions were horrific and 1-12 wasn’t a big score but it was enough to win the game. Brian Sexton’s contribution at wing-forward was crucial and Sam Cronolly is always a threat. A lot of their older heads have gone, they are now quite a young team really but they still have a lot of traits of their older teams. They are strong at winning dirty ball and breaking ball, they are well able to mix it. The likes of Conor Frawley, Sam Cronolly and Darragh McDonagh are young but they have a nice physical edge to their game. Murroe/Boher are also a young team with some minors like Oisin Holmes and Darren Collopy already impressing this year. Jack Nicholas has been flying in the forward line but some of their older heads are also contributing including captain Cillian Byrnes who is a real leader at full-back, Finn Hourigan who looks powerful at wing-back and then the likes of Mikey Ryan & Seánie Tobin inside. Tobin absolutely destroyed Bruree in a county quarter-final last year; you’d imagine they’ll be extra wary of his threat this year and he was held relatively quiet in the group game. Just from looking at Bruree’s score tallies all year though, they haven’t been high
 if Sam Cronolly doesn’t get a decent tally from play (he hit 2-2 the last day) and Murroe/Boher can keep their discipline at all, you’d imagine they should have enough firepower at the other end to do the business. Murroe/Boher by 5.

Croagh/Kilfinny are 1/5 for their semi-final which seems mad to me. I do think they deserve to be favourites but so overwhelmingly? I think the bookies might be underestimating Feohanagh a little bit by putting them at such long odds. An all-West semi-final in NCW, it should be a decent occasion and it would be great for hurling in the West to have one of these teams produced to Premier Intermediate. C/K have been very consistent in getting to finals, they’ve lost all three finals since getting promoted to this grade, an unwanted record but it does show their pedigree as contenders at the very least. Feohanagh were a puck of a ball away from being relegated last year but have regrouped this year and have been impressive. Mike Fitzgibbon & Barry Lynch are both expected home again for this one, their presence was absolutely vital in securing top spot in their group. Jamie Butler was also back on the pitch for the Intermediates in the group stage and SĂ©amie Flanagan is some yoke at this level. They have some big players but it probably is fair to say that they don’t have the all-round strength of C/K or maybe the same pace and athleticism from back-to-front. C/K lost in the opening round but have pretty much blitzed every team since and were comfortable in the end in their quarter-final in tough conditions. They have experienced heads like SĂ©amie Hickey and SĂ©amie O’Carroll (there’ll be an overload of SĂ©amies in this game) with former intercounty footballer O’Carroll very prominent in the last game. They have players with serious athleticism who are formidable hurlers in the likes of Adam Shanagher, James Lanigan and young Aidan O’Shea as well as scoring threats like Cian O’Carroll, Brian Hannan and Jack Lenihan. They have about a million Lenihans aswell, what more could you want? They look like a very well-balanced side and if it is an open game, I do fancy them to have too much pace for Feohanagh. Feohanagh have some very smart heads though and won’t let C/K have it all their own way
 but I have to go with C/K to win it, I’ll say by 4.

Premier Junior

Sunday October 13
Feenagh/Kilmeedy (1/2) vs Knockaderry (13/8) @ 12pm in Killeedy
Kilteely/Dromkeen (1/2) vs St. Patrick’s (13/8) @ 12pm in Bruff

Feenagh/Kilmeedy have been massively, massively impressive so far this year as they look to avenge last year’s county final heartbreaking loss on penalties. But this is a real potential banana skin. If I was to pick one game where I think it is ripe for an upset, it would 100% be this one. I think this will be really, really tight. On one hand, F/K have comfortably disposed of all challengers thus far. But there has to be a little caveat in that three teams have progressed to the semi-finals from the other group. Was F/K’s group the weaker of the two groups? Almost certainly, in my opinion. That’s not to say that F/K themselves are not impressive; they are but this is going to be by far the toughest test they have faced so far. Knockaderry are a serious outfit, they are only just down from Intermediate, were arguably a little unlucky to be relegated and are in great form. Tom Condon has a new lease of life and everybody knows his quality. They’re hitting good scores too; 0-24 in the conditions of last weekend is absolutely exceptional. And they were doing that throughout the group stage: they hit 9-111 in five games, that’s a crazy average of over 27 points a game in what we are saying is the tougher group. With Mark Danaher, the Molloys, Kieran Storin, Rob Egan as well as Condon, they are getting scores from multiple sources and playing an attacking brand of hurling which is maybe something they were guilty of not doing in recent years. Now, F/K hit a similar tally in their group games so this has all the makings of a classic. I am impressed by F/K whenever I see them but I do really like this Knockaderry team too. I’m expecting a classic, possibly the game of the weekend. I don’t think Killeedy has seen many county semi-finals in its time; I certainly don’t remember any there in recent years but it should be a good venue for the occasion. I’m going to go with F/K to win by the narrowest of margins but think they could be in for a ferocious battle and if they’re not tuned-in from the off, they’ll be caught. F/K by 1.

The other game is an interesting one too, K/D were yet another team who took their eye off the ball in their final group game and lost when already through. They’ve had three weeks off since then to try and rectify any issues whereas St. Pat’s edged a vital final group game against Crecora/Manister by a single point before overcoming Drom/Broadford by a goal in the quarter-final. The move of Gearóid Hegarty into the forwards against C/M turned the game and he banged in two goals against D/B too. They’ll presumably continue with that tactic where he can assist his brother in the scoring stakes and give K/D something to worry about. K/D won by 13 points in the group stage as they hit four goals (they scored 16 across five group games) and have serious attacking talent. Do you try and restrict that or do you go for the jugular and hurt them at the other end? Based on the group game and form to date, K/D would have to be favourites, they may have ran the legs off Pat’s in the closing stages of that game before. But Pat’s have grown into the Championship and it would be a big surprise if the margin was anywhere near the same. But I don’t know if I could justify predicting them to win, not sure they’ve improved enough to overturn that level of a margin. I’ll say K/D by 4.

Junior A

Saturday October 12
Monaleen 2 (5/6) vs Patrickswell 2 (5/6) @ 4pm in Old Christians

Sunday October 13
Castletown/Ballyagran (4/9) vs Rathkeale (7/4) @ 12pm in Dromcollogher

I’m a little surprised that Monaleen aren’t favourites against the Well. Again, as I said at the top, I haven’t seen any of these junior games but Monaleen were, to be fair, impressive in their group-topping performances. Like a few other teams I mentioned, their only slip-up was in the final round when they were already through. Maybe the bookies are taking account of that a little bit; in that the team they lost to was the Claughaun side Patrickswell beat by seven in the quarter-final. I am surprised at how good Monaleen have been and I didn’t tip the Well to win that quarter (and was blatantly wrong) but I think I’m going to go against them again here. Just based on group form, I’m going to go with Monaleen by 4.

To be fair, three of the semi-finalists have come from the other group so maybe I am vastly over-estimating Monaleen. But the Mushes have probably exceeded some expectations by making the semi-final at all; they didn’t make life easy for themselves by losing two of their first three games but finished well to get third spot and then edged past Templeglantine after extra-time in the torrential rain last Saturday. Castletown/Ballyagran were my favourites for this competition from the outset and I haven’t heard anything to change my mind yet. Having said that, they didn’t have a perfect group campaign either, yet another table-topper who fell in their final fixture (alongsided Doon, NCW, Murroe/Boher, Feohanagh, Kilteely/Dromkeen, Monaleen
 it’s an awful lot). There was a goal between the sides when they met in the group; it’s not a lot, Rathkeale will more than fancy their chances. They have a lot of pace and could hurt C/B with their ability to carry the ball and open teams up but I do think that C/B have more hurling, more natural scoretakers and that that will be enough. They should have never ever ended down in this grade in the first place and I fancy them to get the job done. C/B by 3.

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997

Big weekend for us feenagh boys this weekend :blue_heart:

998

Great write up. Reckon Knockaderry will be the banana skin Feenagh have been searching for.

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999

Even if he doesn’t feature, that is very promising on Casey. I didn’t think club would even be in any way a consideration so great to hear he is not a million miles away.

1000

POD just scored an all time classic goal!

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