Martinstown - between Kilmallock and knocklong general direction
1 Like
The least The Big House could have done was build a proper stand for them.
The 2 big, open fields are fairly miserable.
1 Like
We have taken anyone decent from the Stakers in donkeys years
Cathal OâKeeffe was very good for G/B. Croagh told Tom McMahon at 6 to sit in the pocket so COK had more room to operate in.
Deliberate or Freudian?
Blackrock supposed to be weak
Huge jump in standard nowadays between Junior B and Junior A in Limerick
Bulgaden/Martinstown
In front of the big house. PJ needed the field for added security .
1 Like
Hayes the corner back on the U21âs must have been the last one.
He wanted to build a lake in the shape of Limerick
He got the names of all the Limerick panellists carved into the stone of the big stone gate. Plenty of space on it for a few more.
4 Likes
Stakers are a great club. Easy to fold it up and go elsewhere.
They were decent Junior in the 70âs when I started going to matches. Used to bring greet crowds. They had a lot of players from Fairyfield in those days. Newtown were at a similar enough level.
1 Like
Senior A
Friday August 5
Adare (15/8) vs Doon (1/2) @ 7pm in Claughaun
Saturday August 6
Ahane (15/8) vs Patrickswell (4/7) @ 7pm in Caherconlish
Kilmallock (6/4) vs Na Piarsaigh (4/6) @ 7pm in Doon
Doon fucked a victory away in the closing stages against Na Piarsaigh, having led pretty much all the way through. They are missing a couple of important players like Adam English & Eddie Stokes but this is more one that they have to win. Adare were unimpressive in their draw against Ahane, but maybe they will raise their game for the bigger matches. They should all be well-recovered from the wedding by Friday. Still, hard to see beyond Doon who went toe-to-toe with the title favourites, even while depleted. Doon by 6.
Ahane versus the Well is the really interesting one. The Well are vulnerable, missing a lot of players and bringing on proper veterans like Peter Harty while getting hammered isnât great. Tom Nolan will be suspended now aswell. Ahane should have beaten Adare but just didnât have the forwards outside of Tom to do it. Tom was absolutely phenomenal but Paudie Harnett will be a big loss in defence, and Ahane have really struggled with Gillane in recent seasons. Now, Gillane definitely isnât totally right either but, whatever about last week, the Well have to win this one or they will really struggle to make any quarter-final. I think theyâll just about get the job done, I think the wake-up call from last week will do them good. Tom vs Byrnes could be interesting. The Well by 2.
Although neither side will surely qualify anyway, the most attractive game to the neutral is the clash between the holders and the title favourites in Doon on Saturday night. Na Piarsaigh showed the experience to come back and get the win over Doon having been down for large periods, while Kilmallock obliterated Patrickswell, even after conceding two early goals. I think 6/4 is absolutely great value for Kilmallock to be honest. I think it sounds like Na Piarsaigh are still finding their way into form, finding their best team, while Kilmallock look slick and ready. Theyâre stronger than last year, theyâre confident and I think they might sneak this one. Might be a different story if they meet again. Kilmallock by 1.
Senior B
Friday August 5
Blackrock (3/1) vs Garryspillane (1/3) @ 7pm in Kilmallock
Saturday August 6
Ballybrown (1/2) vs Mungret/St. Paulâs (15/8) @ 7pm in Claughaun
Kildimo/Pallaskenry (7/4) vs South Liberties (4/7) @ 7pm in Ballybrown
Blackrock & Garryspillane have a bit of history the last couple of years. And after all the controversy, Blackrock pipped the Bouncers last year which meant they had to beat Liberties in the last game. Which they did, but Blackrock still avoided relegation by beating Monaleen. Itâs a similar scenario this year, Garryspillane favoured after running Liberties very close and Blackrock getting beaten fairly handily by Ballybrown. There has been a lot of aggro between the sides and although Blackrock have added a couple of young players, youâd have to fancy Garryspillane here. Bouncers by 4.
Mungret obviously had a great win while missing players last week, Ballybrown got the job done too against Blackrock. As much as it pains me to say it, youâd have to think that Ballybrown will have the experience not to make the same mistakes we have and, again, without Lynch & Duff, itâs a tough ask for Mungret. Theyâll be buoyed by the win but Ballybrown will have learned from that, there was plenty of them interested spectators. Ballybrown by 5.
Not going to predict our match. Obviously gutted from last week, Liberties got their win and are now massive favourites, 2/5 with Powers. We surely canât be as bad again.
4 Likes
Premier Intermediate
Saturday August 6
Bruff (1/3) vs Knockainey (5/2) @ 7pm in Martinstown
Cappamore (10/11) vs Newcastlewest (10/11) @ 7pm in Kilmallock
Dromin/Athlacca (4/7) vs Effin (7/4) @ 7pm in Ballyagran
Glenroe vs Monaleen @ 7pm in Hospital
Why the fuck are all these matches on at exactly the same time? Madness. Anyway⌠Bruff had the biggest win of the opening round, laying down a marker after an awful 2021. Knockainey were pipped by D/A. I expect Bruff to make it out of the group relatively comfortably, and should have too much for Knockainey. Bruff by 7.
Newcastlewest were missing Bryan Nix & Diarmuid Moran Kelly last week, and still eked out a draw. That wouldnât have happened a few years ago, I donât think. To win the county as many people have predicted, they will need both. Although were still able to field 3 of the Hurleys, Mike Mac & Con Hayes in attack. Cappamore caught them last year, ground out the win, so it will be interesting to see whether NCW can rectify that this year. Without the two boys, I wouldnât be surprised to see a similar-type game. Could easily be a draw, might go for NCW by 1.
Effin were well-beaten by Bruff while Dromin/Athlacca had a narrow victory over Knockainey. David Reidy was named at 27 but I can only assume he played? Details havenât really been forthcoming from these games, the problem with them all being on at the same time, and I donât know if OâDonovan played for Bruff either. But Cian Scully at 11, David Breen at 14, Jack Fitzgibbon at 15 & Sean OâLeary at 12. Thatâs way more options than D/A would have had without Reidy even a few years ago. Theyâre starting to see the benefits of some good work underage. I still think Effin could win this if they have POD. But no POD, no party, heâs their elite forward and theyâre not the same without him. Effin by 2 on the basis that he plays.
With Monaleen having beaten Cappamore the first day, and Glenroe having been unable to see out the game against NCW, youâd have to favour Brislaneâs men to get the job done here too. Conor Nicholas injured again? Monaleen by 5.
Intermediate Group 1
Thursday August 4
Croom (5/2) vs Murroe/Boher (2/5) @ 7pm in Fedamore
Sunday August 7
Bruree (1/3) vs Feohanagh (5/2) @ 2pm in Feenagh
Caherline (5/2) vs Na Piarsaigh 2 (1/3) @ 7pm in Claughaun
This is shaping up to be a cut-throat group. Murroe/Boher will be bitterly disappointed with the nature of their performance against Bruree but are still heavy favourites against a Croom side who drew with Caherline. If Croom can make it a dogfight, they might have a chance but youâd fancy Murroe/Boher to bounce back and win by 5 or so if they have real ambitions of challenging for this.
Feohanagh were struck down at the death by the Dow, they come up against a very impressive Bruree side, whose attack is led by Sam Cronolly and who did wreck last week. But in Seamie & Sean Flanagan, as well as James Guina, Feohanagh have their own dangermen. This should be a right cracker to be honest. Feohanagh are probably nearing must-win territory but Bruree were very well set-up and have so much more firepower than they did in their latter years at Premier Intermediate. Iâm going to give Bruree the edge by 2.
NaP2 needed a last-minute goal to beat Feohanagh but they have a lot of talent in their team. Evan Sweeney was a key player for Loughmore/Castleiney up until very recently and, although heâs getting on, he has a lot of senior experience for an intermediate side. They just have so many options. The ageless Andrew Brennan banged in another goal for Caherline in their return to intermediate hurling but couldnât get the win in the match they were probably really targeting. Have to fancy NaP2 here, by 7 or so.
Intermediate Group 2
Saturday August 6
Croagh/Kilfinny (13/8) vs Pallasgreen (4/7) @ 7pm in Mungret
Sunday August 7
Granagh/Ballingarry (8/11) vs Hospital/Herbertstown (11/10) @ 2pm in Kilfinane
Kilmallock 2 (11/10) vs Knockaderry (8/11) @ 2pm in Ballyagran
As Dodgy has alluded to, the 13/8 here for C/K was ridiculous odds. Although Malachy saw Pallasgreen to victory against Knockaderry, C/K are a different proposition altogether and Iâd fancy them to win here. If Pallasgreen can make it a tight, physical dogfight against a young, quick C/K side, youâd fancy them but, in all other cases, I think C/K win. And thatâs even without Jack Lenihan, if he doesnât make it back. Would they have been able to cope without their best forward a few years ago? I doubt it but Cian OâCarroll is some addition; Hickey, Brian Hannon, James Lanigan, etc are all well able to take scores. C/K by 4.
Very hard one to call here, Granagh/Ballingarry will feel that they could have got something in the local derby against Croagh/Kilfinny while Hospital/Herbertstown beat Kilmallock 2 by just a single point. H/H have had a very good year to date but this is their biggest test to date. G/B hadnât been going well but Championship is a completely different story. Would I have expected H/H to win by more against the side Kilmallock put out? I think so. And, on that basis, Iâll go for G/B by 3.
Another almost impossible one to call between Knockaderry and Kilmalock 2. The warrior Paudie OâDwyer still lining out at centre-back for Kilmallock. A lot of experience in the likes of Conor Staunton, Benni Burke, Seamus Connery while Killian Hayes was key for the seniors last year. Knockaderry were without Condon, Hanley & OâSullivan last week. I think if theyâre without them again that Kilmallock will get a win by 3.
5 Likes
Junior A Group 1
Saturday August 6
Ballybricken/Bohermore vs Templeglantine @ 7pm in Feenagh
Crecora/Manister vs Dromcollogher/Broadford @ 7pm in Ballingarry
I think we would all have had the Stakers down to beat Blackrock in the game tonight. Both B/B and Glantine had good opening day wins, I think B/Bâs was probably more impressive over an experienced side like D/B. But Iâll go for Glantine to win this by 3.
And Iâm going to keep tipping CON & Crecora. D/B will be gutted to have lost last week and are already approaching last-chance saloon. In Derry McCarthy, James Molyneux & Damien Burke, they do have some serious assets but C/M are a coming side. C/M by 5.
Junior A Group 2
Thursday August 4
Claughaun vs Killeedy @ 7pm in the Bog Garden
Saturday August 6
Monagea vs St. Patrickâs @ 5pm in Mick Neville Park
Sunday August 7
Ahane 2 vs Castletown/Ballyagran @ 7pm in Ballybrown
Killeedy will have been delighted to get out with a draw last week, without a player of the quality of Paudie Ahern. Cian Magnier Flynn only listed as a sub too? Claughaun had a great victory over Castletown/Ballyagran, did I hear that Blackhall scored a great point to win it at the end? Heâs a very decent forward and they do look to have good options all over the pitch, a lot of pace, McNamara still going in attack too. I donât see how I canât tip them here to be honest. Claughaun by 2.
Big win for Monagea the first day, Iâd say Seanie Herlihy has been waiting for the chance to mark Hego all year but it might be baby Hego when it comes to it. Iâm going to tip Patâs to win this by 5.
Castletown/Ballyagran will be gutted to have let it slip the last day, they canât afford to slip-up. They should be hammering Ahaneâs second team. C/B by 18.
Junior A Group 3
Thursday August 4
Askeaton vs St. Kieranâs @ 7pm in Mick Neville Park
Sunday August 7
Askeaton vs Doon 2 @ 7pm in Mungret
Ballybrown 2 vs Mungret/St. Paulâs 2 @ 7pm in Na Piarsaigh
Saturday August 13
Feenagh/Kilmeedy vs St. Kieranâs @ 7pm in Knockaderry
Askeaton vs Kieranâs moved to Thursday from last week, tipped Askeaton last week, Iâll stick with that.
However, I donât think theyâll do quite as well against what sounds like a very strong Doon side. As Elvis said- MĂcheĂĄl Simon, Mikey Barry, Darragh Stapleton & Bob Purcell are some assets to have in attack for a junior side. A lot of legs on the wings and in midfield then. I know Askeaton have OâFarrell now but if Willie isnât available, I donât see them beating Doon. Doon 2 by 6.
Mungret 2 have lost Conor OâHalloran from the team as per their programme but I still think theyâll have too much for Ballybrown 2 who sound like a bit of a mess at the moment, to be quite frank. Mungret 2 by 6.
Fancy F/K to beat Kieranâs on Saturday week then. F/K by 3.
Junior A Group 4
Saturday August 6
Old Christians vs Rathkeale @ 7pm in Croagh
Sunday August 7
Kilteely/Dromkeen vs Patrickswell 2 @ 2pm in Fedamore
Garryspillane 2 vs Tournafulla @ 7pm Kilmallock
I donât really know how to rate Christians & Rathkeale. I Assume theyâll both be battling with the Bouncers to stay out of relegation. Iâm going to tip Christians by 2, although I see Kevin Howard was only listed at 29. Ken Byrnes & Blackhall are massive losses for these lads.
If the Patrickswell seniors are in bother, their juniors might be hurt aswell, if they end up losing players. Looking at the names, they still have some fine players but maybe not at the same level they were a few years ago. Obviously, K/D are without BOG but they are a first team of a side who generally have ambitions, and Iâll give them the edge. K/D by 3.
Tour should hammer the Bouncers. James Brouder was only listed at 18 but there wonât be too many forwards in the Championship better than him if heâs in form. They just have lots of players who have stood out at this level in the past, and were more than good enough to play intermediate. The Bouncers have a traditional mix of senior fringe players and junior B players. Donie playing wing-back these days according to the programme. Tour by 17.
7 Likes
Kilmalock tournament was it? Used be huge crowds.
1 Like
Reidy was togged with a heavily strapped ankle from what I heard. Didnât do the warm up and in the end, they didnât need to bring him on.
1 Like