Limerick GAA 2023 - League champions means nothing now 🐐

Sport
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It’s absolutely great to be back. All-Ireland in the bag for the county and now we can get back to bateing the shit out of each other in club matches for the next few months. Kiely called up a fair few lads on the strength of their club performances last year, most notably O’Reilly who ended up getting Championship gametime but Duff, Houlihan, POD, Barry all had good club form rewarded. My only gripe with this weekend is that so many matches are fixed for exactly the same time. Nothing can be done about the Thursday or Friday night games, but is there a need for 10 matches to be on at 7pm on Saturday with only one on at another time that day, including the two big senior matches? Same on Sunday with no real spacing out of matches. A minor complaint, maybe clubs specifically requested those times (although slightly early on Saturday is better imo).

Senior A

Thursday July 28

Adare (8/11) vs Ahane (11/10) @ 7pm in Claughaun

Saturday July 30

Doon (6/1) vs Na Piarsaigh (1/10) @ 7pm in Claughaun

Kilmallock (1/3) vs Patrickswell (5/2) @ 7pm in Newcastlewest

The Senior Championship kicks off tonight with the two teams widely tipped to be fighting to stay up in the Senior A group. One of the Adare players is getting married this weekend so they’re playing on the Thursday night, you’d imagine both sides will have been targeting this from a long way out. It is hard to call to be honest, both sides had decent-ish league campaigns but have important county players which transform the nature of their team. I really wouldn’t be surprised if Ahane won, but I’m going to hesitantly go for Adare by 2 on the back of their 2021 performances.

Both Na Piarsaigh & Doon have a lot of county players to integrate back into their side. Na Piarsaigh are finally back at fairly close to full-strength, bar Jerome Boylan, and I think they will have too much for Doon here. Both have much bigger plans than an opening round fixture and it may be different if they meet down the line. Na Piarsaigh by 6.

Lots of talk coming out of the Well about injuries, etc. Kilmallock very very quiet. County champions, just added one of the most talented young forwards Limerick have seen. Sometimes they take a while to get going and they did take a while to get a new coach, but it’s hard to see them not having too much for a depleted Patrickswell. We expect Lynch, Josh & KOB to be out for the Well, and potentially both Gillanes? Even if the Gillanes do play, you’d have to favour Kilmallock in this one. Could be a different story later in the year though. The Balbec by 6.

Senior B

Friday July 29

Kildimo/Pallaskenry (evens) vs Mungret/St. Paul’s (10/11) @ 7pm in Ballybrown

Saturday July 30

Ballybrown (1/4) vs Blackrock (3/1) @ 7pm in Ballyagran

Garryspillane (11/10) vs South Liberties (10/11) @ 7pm in Doon

Not going to give a prediction on our own; obviously if I don’t believe we can win every match we play, what is the point? Again, talk of major injuries in both camps, be interesting to see who lines out.

Ballybrown should have knocked Kilmallock out last year but a mishit ’65 in the last minute kept Kilmallock alive, who then went on to win the county with Ballybrown ending up dropping down to the Senior B group. For 2022, that might actually aid them in a run at the county if they can build momentum and perfect their system against weaker sides before having a tilt at the bigger names. They have Harry Gleeson, more known as a football man with plenty of county titles to his name, in with Fergie O’Loughlin which is an interesting backroom team. Sounds like Josh Adams is back from his dislocated elbow, AOC flying in attack and young Mikey Gavin potentially at centre-back. Rumours of the return of Mikey Kiely too? Jimmy Quilty senior is gone from Blackrock, Ollie Moran in charge; I just think Quilty had them very well set-up and they were punching above their weight, and may struggle this year. Ballybrown by 15.

The Bouncers beat Liberties by a point last year, although Liberties were realistically already through. Need to put together real consistency to get out of the group this year, both sides will have realistic aims of that. Liberties probably the favourites alongside Ballybrown to proceed at this moment in time, having done so last year and having brought Kilmallock to extra-time. Barry Nash is absolutely huge for them, he’s pretty much unmarkable at this level. Last year’s transfers Anthony Nash, Ken Byrnes and Barry Cooney did strengthen them considerably as the likes of the O’Neills are getting older. Garryspillane are largely a very young team, built around the two-in-a-row winning minor sides. Was really impressed with Ciaran Sheehan for them last year, one of the more unheralded players on those teams. I think the odds reflect the expected close nature of the contest, but I think Liberties will do it by about 3.

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Premier Intermediate

Friday July 29

Cappamore (15/8) vs Monaleen (1/3) @ 7pm in Caherconlish

Glenroe (15/8) vs Newcastlewest (1/2) @ 7pm in Feenagh

Saturday July 30

Bruff (4/5) vs Effin (11/10) @ 5pm in Kilmallock

Dromin/Athlacca (4/5) vs Knockainey (11/10) @ 7pm in Knocklong

First game up is last year’s relegated side, Monaleen, versus last year’s county finalists, Cappamore. I don’t think many expected either to be in those positions last year. It was a fair fall from grace for Monaleen who had generally been competing at the top end of the Senior B group in the years previous, while Cappamore had had a shocking 2020. Again, really hard to call this: both sides had a fairly decent league campaign. Cappamore had some big wins last year but were fairly outclassed in the final, Monaleen are pretty good at playing tippy-tappy hurling out the field. Both are adding some nice young players; Joe Fitz from Monaleen was one of the stars of the Limerick minor panels of 2020 & 2021 while Mike Fitzgibbon from Cappamore will definitely add to their attack if they play him up front. Hard to know from the formlines, but I’ll go for Cappamore by 1.

Very excited to see Con Hayes in Championship for NCW; I expect a lot of them in general this year. BMB was talking about a couple of big injuries but I’m still going to opt for NCW by 2.

Group 2 is like a mini South Championship, plenty of local rivalries. Bruff ended up in a relegation final last year, when they would have bene one of the favourites for promotion. Effin won the Intermediate at their ease, in reality, with POD absolutely ripping defences apart. He may be injured for the weekend, and that would be massive. I really like the way Effin play but without that focal point to their attack, they may struggle against Bruff, who do have a lot of talent in their panel. On the basis that POD doesn’t make it, Bruff by 3.

I’ve seen D/A play this year and was quietly impressed. Cian Scully will be a big addition to their side too, although the Reidys remain the main men. Haven’t seen Knockainey since last year and they do have some lively forwards in Barron & Lonergan, but I’m going to go for Dromin/Athlacca by 4.

Intermediate Group 1

Thursday July 28

Caherline (15/8) vs Croom (1/2) @ 7pm in Fedamore

Sunday July 31

Bruree (11/10) vs Murroe/Boher (4/5) @ 2pm in Hospital

Feohanagh (4/5) vs Na Piarsaigh 2 (5/4) @ 7pm in Croagh

I think there’s serious value in the odds here in a couple of matches. I think Caherline have a real chance against Croom. They were massively impressive in winning the junior last year, they’ve also got back Hourigan & Gary Murphy back in the mix to add to the real class of Paudie Wixted & Andrew Brennan. Seen them this year and thought they were impressive. Croom have been treading water for a couple of years, you always hear these rumours of them going very badly and they turn out alright but I think they are there to be taken tonight. I’ll go for Caherline by 3.

Bruree will be kicking themselves that they didn’t make a county final last year, Murroe/Boher must be wondering how they even find themselves at this grade. These are two of the favourites for this year’s Championship and this will be an interesting clash to see where they are at. Bruree are absolutely flying in challenges apparently, while Murroe/Boher have had some excellent early-season form too. Very hard to call, odds reflect that, I’ll go for Murroe/Boher by 2.

Again, serious value here. I think NaP2 are one of the favourites for the Championship and will be at their strongest at the start of the year before players get burned with the seniors. With the seniors much stronger than last year, the intermediates should be able to add a lot of players who now have senior exposure not to mention David Breen, potentially Shane Dowling as well as Vince Harrington & maybe Wayne Kearns. Just so many numbers coming through, they’ll have a very decent third team aswell. Feohanagh are apparently going very well but I just think NaP are likely to be very well-rounded at the start of the year and may edge this. NaP by 4.

Intermediate Group 2

Saturday July 30

Knockaderry (15/8) vs Pallasgreen (1/2) @ 7pm in Mungret

Sunday July 31

Croagh/Kilfinny (10/11) vs Granagh/Ballingarry (11/10) @ 2pm in the Bog Garden

Hospital/Herbertstown (4/6) vs Kilmallock (11/8) @ 7pm in Knocklong

I’ve seen both these sides this season and Knockaderry were the more impressive but struggled to get scores. Pallasgreen were woeful the day I saw them, completely carried by Malachy, although Brian Fanning wasn’t playing and he is a big player. Malachy is a matchwinner on his own to be fair, and Knockaderry don’t quite have that player. But Condon wasn’t playing the day I saw them and they had more players who were able to take scores than Pallasgreen had. Malachy could win it but Pallasgreen seemed to be in an awful state and they took a couple of massive beatings in the league. I think there’s real value here and I’ll go for Knockaderry by 2.

Arguably, the most attractive fixture of the weekend is C/K vs G/B. I won’t make it but it should be a cracker in the Bog Garden. A very impressive first year at the junior grade for C/K, getting all the way to the county final. Evan Loftus is involved with them this year after Chris Sexton stepped away and appear to be motoring well. G/B did not have a good league but often pull it out in Championship. But, based on the known formlines, you’d have to go for C/K by about 5.

H/H had a great league, admittedly at a lower level, winning it outright. Kilmallock didn’t enter their second team in the league and, as already mentioned, always very hard to judge second teams. I think they may have benefited from the reduced format Championship and Tony Considine’s reluctance to use any subs whatsoever. I wonder will Fintan O’Connor be the same? I expect H/H to win this even though this is likely to be the strongest Kilmallock are at this grade. H/H by 4.

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Junior A Group 1

Saturday July 30

Ballybricken/Bohermore vs Dromcollogher/Broadford @ 5pm in Martinstown

Crecora/Manister vs Staker Wallace @ 7pm in Caherelly

Sunday July 31

Blackrock 2 vs Templeglantine @ 2pm in Dromcollogher

Not going to overdo it on the junior teams as I wouldn’t have seen many of these since last year. B/B had a great 2021, D/B had one to forget. I still think that, on paper, D/B should be winning this. But B/B proved me wrong so many times last year and have had some joy at underage too, so I’ll go for them by 2.

Stakers have been producing some decent underage players who I don’t think have been stolen by Kilmallock yet but I think they’ll do well to win this one. C/M aren’t actually a one-man team, they’re a very solid junior team in their own right but CON brings the class and scoring quality that most junior teams do not have. Crecora/Manister by 9.

Blackrock did well to win the Junior B and they’ll have a right oul rattle at the group, but it’s hard to see a first team like Templeglantine not winning this with that extra bit of quality up front. Glantine by 7.

Junior A Group 2

Saturday July 30

Ahane 2 vs Monagea @ 7pm in Croagh

Killeedy vs St. Patrick’s @ 7pm in Ballingarry

Sunday July 31

Castletown/Ballyagran vs Claughaun @ 2pm in Fedamore

Ahane used to have a very weak second team but, with an influx of younger players, have strengthened over the last year or so. However, still going to go for Monagea to get the win here by about 5.

Two of the real favourites to win the competition outright in Killeedy & St. Pat’s, which should be a real cracker. After his performance in the All-Ireland final, a lot of people are really interested to see whether Hego can cause absolute mayhem at junior level but he needs a supporting cast. Will young Hego be fit? He’s an important player to take some of the heat off his older brother. Killeedy are nice hurlers but flatter to deceive, and if Paudie Ahern is out, you’d have to favour Pat’s. Pat’s by 4.

C/B are the side I picked to win this outright, I really like young Riordan as a forward, I think he’s extremely lively and they already had one of the strongest junior sides around. Claughaun were strong in 2020 but poor in 2021 and this is actually a really strong group, a lot of these sides would have notions of winning it. But I have to pick C/B really, I’ll go for them by 6.

Junior A Group 3

Friday July 29

Askeaton vs St. Kieran’s @ 7pm in the Bog Garden

Saturday July 30

Feenagh/Kilmeedy vs Mungret/St. Paul’s 2 @ 7pm in Mick Neville Park

Sunday July 31

Ballybrown 2 vs Doon 2 @ 7pm in Caherconlish

Kieran’s got all the way to the final last year, surprising many people, including me. In reality, Askeaton haven’t had the best couple of years. Kieran’s did seem to be relying on a lot of older heads last year, fellas well into their 30s as well as a couple from their U-19 side. Will they repeat last year’s form? I think Askeaton will really fancy this one, and I’m going to say they’ll edge it by 2.

Mungret’s second team have been lively in recent years, although you would think that F/K’s first team would have enough. With rumours of injuries for the Mungret seniors, maybe they won’t be as strong first day out as they could be. Although because of a continued production line of decent younger players, there is always a certain amount of quality guaranteed. I’ll still go for F/K by 2.

Two second teams against each other, I think I have to go with Doon who have serious numbers and are consistently very competitive at this grade. Doon by 7.

Junior A Group 4

Saturday July 30

Rathkeale vs Tournafulla @ 7pm in Castlemahon

Sunday July 31

Garryspillane 2 vs Kilteely/Dromkeen @ 7pm in Hospital

Old Christians v Patrickswell 2 @ 7pm in Mungret

Tournafulla are newly-relegated but powered through the West league, getting all the way to the final against H/H. They have some very talented players and were perhaps unfortunate to be relegated. Rathkeale, you simply could not rely on them to be good even though they definitely have talent. Tour by 10.

Brian O’Grady is a massive, massive loss for Kilteely/Dromkeen. Will they win a county without him? Hard to see it. They’ll still fancy themselves to get out of the group though, and I think they’ll have too much for the Bouncers. K/D by 6.

A lot of people tipping Christians for relegation. I’m not sure about that part of it, but I think they will struggle here. The Well should be very strong although presumably a number of players will be burned because of the senior absentees. Still, they’ve been competitive at Premier U-21 over the past few years and should have too much for Christians. The Well by 9.

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Note due to a very sad death in the area this game is now refixed for next Thursday

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It’ll be interesting to see how the balbec go with the much maligned Fintan O’Connor in charge.

Im not sure he’ll “understand them” quite like the great Tony Considine.

2747

Some great reading by @Aristotle

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2748

Was that the lad involved with Cummins for the Tipp U20s?

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It will be a learning experience for him

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Yes. Was over Kerry before that, and involved with Dictionary Derek in Waterford also.

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2751

Kilmallock don’t tend to like fellas who play tippy-tappy hurling.

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2752

It would be nice to get some streamed games this year, they seem to have done away with that altogether. I know it was down to reduced capacities during COVID but they’d get good viewerships

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2753

Yeah- I think Tipp, Clare, Cork & Galway are all doing it.

I know it’s harder without the Gaelic Grounds but that’s just an excuse really. If they really wanted to, they could set something up. It is a pity.

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They have three groups of three in the Kerry hurling. Top two progress. Then the three teams that top their group draw and one of them has to play a QF.

Stupid system, but they have 9, hard to make something fair from it. Especially when you want it run off in a month so the football can have a run of the place

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You stick to the cork championship and don’t be worried about the club championship of the county who’ve won 4 of the last 5 all irelands.

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Looks like the Na Piarsaigh v Doon game is moved to Claughaun from KIlmallock for some reason.
Glad I noticed that…

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Yeah, Well vs Kilmallock was moved to NCW from Claughaun; we’re presuming for TV purposes.

NaP vs Doon moved to Claughaun then.

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In an ideal world, a group of 5 & a group of 4 would be best.

Top 2 from each group make the semi-finals. Would obviously take 7 weekends minimum.

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Meaning that the balbec and the Well are a better draw nationally than the townies and the underachievers. Can’t beat tradition I suppose @Watchyourtoes

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Well it was last year’s county final tbf.

TG4 love the idea of zooming in on Lynch on the sideline every time Patrickswell hit a wide. I actually saw him at lunch and he wasn’t using the crutches anymore.

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Box office!