My prediction for week. Doon, NCW, Adare, PWell, Kilmallock.
I do think we easily should do the job over Ahane also.
However as we have seen, there hasnāt been a week yet without an upset. Wonder who it will be this week.
Could it be Monaleen??
A big weekend of fixtures in Group 2 - a top of the table clash victory for either side will put them into pole position to advance to a 1/4 final spot, the clash of 3rd and 4th and a win for either team will put them right back into the mix while the clash of the winless teams in 5th or 6th would give the victors a good chance of avoiding relegation, leaving the losing side to need results in the 2 remaining games.
In group 1 its not as tight or cut-throat and points are valuable but not necessarily essential for progression at this stage. Monaleen being the only team that desperately need points to prolong their season and stay in the top flight.
We head into R3 and thereās very little room for error left for a lot of teams. At this chance, itās last-chance saloon for some teams in terms of making the knockout stages and the threat of relegation begins to loom over certain teams. Others are in a more positive position and can potentially secure some sort of knockout position with another victory.
Senior A
Thursday August 27
Ahane (6/1) vs Na Piarsaigh (1/12) @ 6.30pm in Claughaun
Doon (1/6) vs Monaleen (4/1) @ 6.30pm in Cappamore
Saturday August 29
Ballybrown (10/3) vs Kilmallock (1/4) @ 5pm in Newcastle West
Na Piarsaigh will no doubt have been disappointed after their opening round defeat but bounced back to really lay down a marker against Monaleen, delivering a bit of a hammering. Ahane, on the other hand, had a really good opportunity to almost secure themselves a quarter-final berth at this early stage but fell to Ballybrown which means they could have yet another year of that limbo position between quarter-final and relegation to Senior B. While they have competed against Na Piarsaigh in previous years, itās hard to actually give them the nod in a prediction having seen what Na Piarsaigh can do when they hit full flow. Na Piarsaigh by 5.
The last round will have been extremely disappointing for Monaleen. They competed well against Ahane and maybe on another day, it could have gone their way. But they didnāt really lay a glove on Na Piarsaigh and itās something weāve seen before where the newly-promoted team canāt get near NaP in full flow. Doon havenāt quite hit their stride yet; they beat Ballybrown without being outstanding and were comfortably beaten by Kilmallock with a Chris Thomas red card early in the second half pretty much ending their challenge. I would expect Monaleen to have learned a massive amount from the Na Piarsaigh experience and to get a lot closer to Doon, but youād have to make the 2024 county champions favourites. Doon by 7.
Kilmallock have been the form team so far, beating both last yearās county finalists and itās difficult to see them not making it three from three. Ballybrown did really well to get a win against Ahane, without Colin Coughlan available, after a disappointing opening outing against Doon. One more win will probably be enough for them to make back-to-back quarter-finals as a result but whispers of injury striking the camp and the form that Kilmallock have been in, probably have to go with Kilmallock for this one. Kilmallock by 5.
Senior B
Thursday August 27
Kildimo/Pallaskenry (4/5) vs Newcastle West (11/10) @ 7.30pm in Mick Neville Park
Friday August 28
Adare (5/4) vs Mungret/St. Paulās (4/6) @ 6.30pm in Ballybrown
Garryspillane (11/4) vs Patrickswell (1/3) @ 6.30pm in Fedamore
In Mick Neville, the two teams without a win go head-to-head which heaps pressure on both sides. Newcastle West put in a good display against the Well but conceded some very soft goals against Garryspillane and leaves them behind on head-to-head in those two. Kildimo/Pallaskenryās defeats have come against the two teams who have won both their games but a defeat here would leave them in dire straits, as NCW would have that head-to-head advantage. K/P have picked up a couple of key injuries along the way but thatās not what caused two very poor second half performances on foot of some very good first halves. Can they put in a better second half showing this week? Nothing could separate these two last year, it could go right to the wire again.
Adare & Mungret lead the way in this group and youād have to make the victor here the favourite to go up to the Senior A group. Adare hammered Garryspillane and then had a great comeback against K/P to secure their second win. Mungret also beat K/P and probably had the most impressive result of all the last day by beating the Well, Liam Lynchās late goal securing the victory. When Mungret hit their flow, they are very hard to stop. Their one area of weakness is probably their full-back line and Adare do look very strong inside, hitting five goals against Garryspillane and both Brendan OāConnor & Willie Griffin very prominent the next day. Rory Duff returned for Mungret the last day and made a big impact off the bench and I think Mungret have a bit more balance across the team. Mungret by 3.
The Well will have been gutted by that late defeat to Mungret and, unless Adare do them a favour, it could end their hopes of getting back up to the A group. Getting to a quarter-final is still in their hands though and they need to get back on track here. Contrary to many, I thought they actually played fairly well against Mungret; there was very little between the two teams to be honest and Mungret arenāt a bad side at all. Garryspillane had a brilliant win against NCW and the return of Calum & Ciaran Sheehan certainly made an impact. You would still fancy the Well to win here based on the overall strength of both sides. But if Garryspillane can limit goals at one end and get a few as they did against NCW, they will certainly make it interesting. But Iāll go with the Well by 5.
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Premier Intermediate
Thursday August 27
Glenroe vs Murroe/Boher @ 6.30pm in Hospital
Friday August 28
Bruff vs Dromin/Athlacca @ 6.30pm in Kilmallock
Saturday August 29
Blackrock vs Croagh/Kilfinny @ 3pm in Feenagh
Effin vs Granagh/Ballingarry @ 5pm in Ballyagran
Glenroe got off the mark in their refixed game against Granagh/Ballingarry and it makes it very interesting across the board. There are now four teams on 2 points, while their opponents here, Murroe/Boher, one of the two teams still on 6 points. M/B have had a very impressive return to the Premier Intermediate grade and itās probably difficult to back against them here, based on all known form. M/B by 6.
The big game on paper is on Friday night as a Dromin/Athlacca side who have won all three games to date take on a Bruff side who have been involved in three very close contests. Bruff have two draws on the board and a one-point defeat; I would be shocked if itās not another very close game again. D/A have been impressive so far; they are only just down from Senior and theyāve beaten last yearās losing finalist as well as one of the semi-finalists. While itās very difficult to win every game in this extended group, I find it hard to back against D/A who have been the form side. D/A by 2.
Blackrock with 3 points sit in 3rd position while many peopleās favourites to win it out, Croagh/Kilfinny, are currently at the bottom of the pile with just 1. Now, thereās not much between them; a win by C/K would see them leapfrog Blackrock due to head-to-head. There was no great shame in their loss to D/A but will have been very disappointed to be pipped by a point by their near neighbours, Granagh/Ballingarry. Blackrock havenāt played any of the sides that C/K played so canāt really read formlines but Iām going to go with C/K to get their campaign back on track and get the win. C/K by 4.
Effin, like Bruff, have two draws and a defeat and, while, considering their opponents in those games, they donāt look like poor results in isolation; they need to get off the mark now. Granagh/Ballingarry did brilliantly to beat C/K by one but will have been desperately disappointed to lose by the same margin to Glenroe. It means that both these sides sit on the same amount of points and whether they will be looking at relegation or a semi-final could depend on this weekend. The return of Jack Quaid should strengthen Effin while I hear rumours that Sean OāConnor may be absent for G/B. Not sure if true but itās definitely making me lean towards Effin. Effin by 3.
Intermediate Group 1
Thursday August 27
Cappamore vs St. Kieranās @ 6.30pm in Newcastle West
Feenagh/Kilmeedy vs South Liberties @ 6.30pm in Adare
Feohanagh vs Pallasgreen @ 6.30pm in Ballyagran
Kieranās have done so well to stave clear of relegation in recent years but with two defeats from two so far, they will be looking at their game against Liberties as the one to potentially avoid a relegation play-off. A win here against Cappamore certainly couldnāt hurt to set them up ahead of that. Cappamore themselves have had a narrow win and a narrow defeat; and it would be a major shock to me if this was a high-scoring encounter. I expect it to be close, the weather will probably lead to it being a proper dogfight but Iāll give Cappamore the nod. Cappamore by 3.
Feenagh/Kilmeedy had a fantastic win against Feohanagh in the last round while it has been a miserable drop down to Intermediate for Liberties so far. They were beaten by that same Feohanagh side by 9 points in R1 and were narrowly defeated by Cappamore the last day. Based on that one formline through Feohanagh, itās very hard to see F/K not getting the win here. Do Liberties have the personnel to make such a drastic turnaround? I have to go with F/K by 7.
As mentioned, Feohanagh have had one win but will have been disappointed by the last round defeat. Will they persist with Flanagan at 6 or move him back up the pitch? They would see Pallasgreen as eminently beatable but the east side do have two wins from two so far. Still, I do fancy Feohanagh in this one, I think they have a little bit more in the way of firepower which can make all the difference at this level. Feohanagh by 4.
Intermediate Group 2
Thursday August 27
Knockainey vs Na Piarsaigh 2 @ 6.30pm in Bohermore
Friday August 28
Bruree vs Hospital/Herbertstown @ 6.30pm in Kilfinane
Saturday August 29
Knockaderry vs Mungret/St. Paulās 2 @ 6.30pm in Croagh
Knockainey & Na Piarsaigh both have a win and a loss so far and if we think that Bruree & Knockaderry will both make the knockouts, then this game will be crucial in determining who joins them. I always seem to think that Knockainey are slightly better than they are and they constantly seem to disappoint my predictions. I do like the look of the Na Piarsaigh team on paper, they look to be a good bit stronger than the last couple of years (and they won an Intermediate a bit before that) so I reckon theyāre not far off that level again. Iām going to go with NaP by 4.
Bruree are many peopleās favourites for this competition and have done their job efficiently so far with relatively straightforward 6 & 9-point wins. Itās been a lot less good for Hospital/Herbertstown who have had 7 & 11-point defeats, one of those against a side Bruree beat. I think Bruree are a very good side and I think H/H will struggle in this one, itās very hard to go any other way. Bruree by 10.
But while Bruree have been very good so far, Knockaderry are actually ahead of them on score difference, largely thanks to a big win over H/H. But they also scored 3 goals in beating Knockainey by 8 points, a very impressive victory in its own right. Mungret lost to Knockainey which already put them on the back foot in terms of qualifying from the group; they probably wouldnāt have expected to beat Bruree. But, at the start of the year, newly-promoted Knockaderry probably were a team theyād have been targeting. Iāve seen Knockaderry and they are a good side for this level, they have forwards who can get scores, and the formlines suggest they should be favourites here. Knockaderry by 5.
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Premier Junior Group 1
Thursday August 27
Castletown/Ballyagran vs Croom @ 6.30pm in Ballingarry
Friday August 28
Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan vs Kilmallock 2 @ 6.30pm in Coolyroe
Monaleen 2 vs Tournafulla @ 6.30pm in the Bog Garden
Castletown/Ballyagran absolutely hammered Kilmallock the last day which was a nice antidote to a disappointing first-round defeat. Croom, on the other hand, fell pretty poorly to Tournafulla (the side who beat C/B by 3). I thought Croom would be a bit better than their performances to date have shown. C/B have racked up a big tally in both games, even in their defeat. Basically, I have to go with C/B by 5.
Kilmallock have had two bad defeats so far; their own score tallies have been very low and theyāve conceded an awful lot, their score difference is -30 after two games. So unless they have players to come back in, I think theyāre going to continue to struggle. ABK were also well-beaten by Monaleen but at least weāve seen them capable of getting a bit more on the scoreboard, Oisin OāFarrell is a big asset in that respect. The thing is, I donāt know if Kilmallock do have players to return at this level, but, based on the evidence I do have, Iāll go with ABK by 6.
Tour & Monaleen sit as the top two so far, winning both their games. I think people did expect this of Monaleen last year; they were impressive in their first year up last year but maybe a bit more of a surprise in the Tour corner. Monaleen have scored 3-50 in two games which is big, big scoring but Tour have six goals in two games (hitting exactly 3-19 in both games). If Monaleen can limit Tourās goal threat, I do think theyāll win, and it will be a different test for Tour. Monaleen by 4.
Premier Junior Group 2
Wednesday August 26
Doon 2 vs Kilteely/Dromkeen @ 6.30pm in Cappamore
Thursday August 27
Caherline vs Crecora/Manister @ 6.30pm in Fedamore
Dromcollogher/Broadford vs St. Patrickās @ 6.30pm in Kilmallock
Doon beat Kilteely/Dromkeen on Wednesday evening to move up to two wins and move two points clear of K/D, giving them a big advantage in the race for the quarter-final with K/D now probably needing two wins from their remaining games and a bit of luck also.
The top two face off against each other in Fedamore; both have won both games to date. Whoever wins should pretty much seal their spot in the knockout stages. Both sides had a fairly comfortable victory over St. Patās (Caherline had the bigger margin), Caherline beat Doon by a point while C/M won by 9 against K/D. Based on form to date, itās hard to separate them and you would imagine itāll be a very close game. Iām going to give the nod to C/M by 2.
It also means that the bottom two go head-to-head; even at this stage, the loser would be facing down the barrel of a relegation semi-final. St. Patās have played the current top two but suffered two fairly heavy defeats; the injuries that have ravaged their squad have definitely taken their toll. Drom/Broadford havenāt had quite the same margin of defeats but didnāt exactly get close either and against arguably weaker teams. Itās a very, very tough one to call; will Hego be a big factor? Iām to go with D/B but it pretty much is a complete guess. D/B by 2.
Junior A Group 1
Sunday August 30
Ahane 2 vs Kildimo/Pallaskenry 2 @ 1pm in Claughaun
Ballybricken/Bohermore vs Old Christians @ 1pm in Crecora
Bruff 2 vs Templeglantine @ 1pm in Knockaderry
Three games in this group on Sunday afternoon and we should have a better idea of where things are at after this weekend. At the moment, there are four teams on two points. Currently, it is Kildimo/Pallaskenry below that pod of four with two losses so far and this looks like a must-win for them against Ahane. Ahane had a great win against Christians in the last round after going close to B/B in the earlier round. Very hard to call this one; second teams filled with younger players probably more hit by EP than first teams.
Christians have scored 9 goals in their two games to date but havenāt yet hit double digits for points in either game. That goalscoring prowess did help them to a fantastic shock win over Templeglantine but wasnāt enough to unseat Ahane. Ballybricken/Bohermore have had two wins so far; they havenāt blown either of their opponents away but I do fancy them to do enough in this one. B/B by 6.
Templeglantine were victims of that Old Christians shock in Round 1 but bounced back well with a late surge against K/P, Mark McCarthy particularly influential. Bruff also beat K/P but fell by just 6 to B/B. Based on what Iāve seen of both sides and Templeglantineās run to the final last year, they would have to be the favourites here. Templeglantine by 8.
Junior A Group 2
Thursday August 27
Ballybrown 2 vs Rathkeale @ 6.30pm in Kildimo
Killeedy vs Monagea @ 6.30pm in Tournafulla
Saturday August 29
Claughaun vs Garryspillane 2 @ 6.30pm in Caherconlish
Another clash between the top two of a group when Ballybrown & Rathkeale face off against each other. Ballybrown have been impressive on their promotion, particularly that opening win against Killeedy. Rathkeale have been in great form though, having an athlete like Barry Coleman at this level is some asset. I had been hyping up Monagea and Rathkeale beat them by 5 so I have to be impressed by that. Both sides had very comfortable victories over Garryspillane, Ballybrown with a slightly bigger margin. A bit of a toss of a coin for me, Ballybrown possibly have more in the way of shooters from distance but Rathkeale have a lot of players who are a real handful too. Iāll go Rathkeale by 1.
I touched on both Killeedy & Monagea above; both have suffered what would probably have been considered shock defeats and both have also beaten Claughaun. With the way results are gone, there is the very real possibility that one of these teams will now not make the knockouts. Based on the Claughaun formline, Killeedy would have to be the favourites based upon margin but Iām going to go with Monagea, very slightly, as I did tip them to win this out and I have to go with my gut. Monagea by 2.
Claughaun versus Garryspillane is a battle of the current bottom two in this group and a loss in this one will make one side a massive favourite for the relegation play-off. Claughaunās defeats were to Killeedy & Monagea whereas Garryspillaneās were to the current top two, Rathkeale & Ballybrown. While that could potentially make people lean towards Garryspillane; for me, their second team doesnāt look to be as strong as it was last year and Iād give Claughaun the nod. Claughaun by 3.
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Great write up.
Both Na P teams playing tonight?
Plenty rural clubs that struggle to get 15 training looking on with envy.
Do we think it iz bottom team in the group are in relegation final in Junior ?
Their seniors have now used 20 players so I suppose, at that stage, you can just bring 20 and send the rest to the intermediate if you have to.
Iām sure some of those fellas would like to go watch the seniors if theyāve been training away with them all year but needs must, I guess.
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13 games at 6.30 on a Thursday is madness. There are also underage fixtures on across the county. Many referees will not have linesmen at tonightās games as a result.
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Iām sure this has been covered before but are any of these viewable on clubber or any form of streaming?
Check StreamSport social media, thatās who cover the Limerick games.
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All senior games except KP vs NCW are being streamed this weekend, along with Dromin/Athlacca vs Bruff tomorrow.
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EP - ELECTRIC PICNIC
Surely football should be on this weekend?
FOOTBALL IS THE ONLY GAME NOW. HURLING IS A GLORIFIED EXHIBITION GAME IN 3 OR 4 COUNTY ALL EIRE??> THOUGHTS IF NOT FROM LIMERIC
Why?
Hurling have only 2 rounds played.
To allow the hurling lads go to EP. 
Did you ever hear such shite!
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Na P 2-09 Ahane 0-06 HT
Its next to impossible to find a scoreline on twitter for a Limerick club game.
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