This Friday night sees the commencement of the Limerick Senior Football championship with some intriguing matches down for decision. The draw for this years championship has produced 2 relatively balanced groups, with most teams fancying their chances of progressing to the knock stages in September.
First we will look at the games in a very tight looking Group A.
Fr Caseys (4/6) V Newcastlewest (11/8)
These are two teams who will be on a redemption mission after both failed to progress from their respective groups last year. As they bid to atone for last years blip, serial under-achievers Abbeyfeale have gone all out and tempted former inter-county manger Liam Kearns to come on board with them this year. His term in charge hasn’t gotten off to the smoothest of starts with a lackluster league campaign along with a first round exit from the West Senior Championship. That said Fr Caseys are a side bursting with talent and it may just take Kearns some time to figure out how to make the most of the assets at his disposal.
Newcastlewest, looking to put the bed the ghosts of Teddy McCarthy’s disasterous spell in charge of the club, have begun the year in fine fashion, beating Fr Caseys & Ballysteen on their way to this years West final. A slight preference is given to Newcastlewest but don’t expect there to be much more than a couple of points separating the teams.
Ballysteen (8/13) V Galbally (6/4)
Sure to be a tight affair as neither are noted for running up big scores. Ballysteen prevailed comfortably in the corresponding fixture last season but Galbally will be boosted by the availability of James Ryan and Vinny O’Connell, while Ballysteen will be weakened by the departure of stalwarth midfield Ray Hayes.
Both teams will be eyeing each other up as a potential two points and failure to achieve the maximum will be seen as a setback by both clubs. The bookies make Ballysteen clear favourites, and while I see them as the most likely winners, as above I don’t see there being much more than a couple of points between the sides.
St Kierans (8/15) V Adare (7/4)
Two teams who will be delighted with their starts to the year clash in a game that both will see as a must win tie. Kierans have consistently reached the knock-out stages in recent seasons and will be looking to get off to a good start here. Adare, who have struggled to compete in past seasons, seem to be a much more focused unit this year and will see this as the ideal game to lay down a marker for the year.
At prices I would take a chance on Adare to cause a mild upset here.
Group B Pallasgreen (13/8) V Sean Finns (4/7)
Sean Finns will be keen to announce their arrival at senior level and couldn’t have asked for a better opening fixture to do so. Pallasgreen have struggle to make any impact at senior level in recent years, including a spell at intermediate, and the wide open space of Bruff should suit the fast running game of Rathkeale.
Ballylanders (13/8) V Monaleen (4/7)
Two teams who’s seasons generally tend to go in opposite directions. Ballylanders tend to be in top shape for the opening round, but struggle as the year goes on, while Monaleen don’t seem to wake up until the chips are down in August. Monaleen’s form so far this year has been poor and I would expect a well drilled Ballylanders to keep up their record of opening round successes. At 13/8 they are a serious bet.
Drom/Broadford (4/9) V St Patricks (2/1)
Regining champions Drom/Broadford have had a surprisingly poor start to the year with only one competitive win to their name. Meanwhile St Patricks, under new manager Moss McCarthy are flying on top of the league and have also clinched their first city championship in many years.
That said Drom in championship are a different animal and I expect them to have enough to prevail here by 2/3 points.
Advised Bet Ballylanders, Newcastlewest, Sean Finns returns nearly 9/1
Thanks guys. You’d know it wasn’t the piece @TreatyStones wrote by the marked absence of a there/their error.
Someone actually had an interest in limerick club football and put this together. I’m shocked! Fair play.
Good article Rocko.
Best of luck to our neighbours Sean Finns in their first championship game at senior grade.
Wins for fr. Casey’s and ballysteen in round 1 of limerick SFC last nite.
Were you at either of the games? Any reports?
Was at fr. Casey’s v ncw. Very poor game. Casey’s dominated for 40 mins but nearly lost it at the end as they tried to close up shop at 10-4 up. This invited ncw back into the game and with Casey’s getting 2 black cards as ncw went in search of an equaliser it made for an interesting finish. Overall, Liam Kerins experience which influenced Casey’s structure, that played with a sweeper in the 1st half and frustrated ncw no end was where this game was won and lost. Best for Casey’s were Padraig browne and billy Quirke.
Did caseys setup much different to last year? They always tend to drop a player (usually Browne) into that sweeper role, but it can sometimes result in them playing a bit negatively and methodically.
Tom Collins was d sweeper and paudie Browne played centre back. Both played well.
Ballylanders (13/8) V Monaleen (4/7)
Two teams who’s seasons generally tend to go in opposite directions. Ballylanders tend to be in top shape for the opening round, but struggle as the year goes on, while Monaleen don’t seem to wake up until the chips are down in August. Monaleen’s form so far this year has been poor and I would expect a well drilled Ballylanders to keep up their record of opening round successes. At 13/8 they are a serious bet.
Anyone go to Sean Finns - Pallasgreen game last night? Seems like a handy win for Rathkeale. The Green surely favourites for demotion to intermediate this year.
They won’t go down without a fight - literally.
An interesting weekend overall, with the stand out performance being Drom/Broadfords 2nd half display against St Pats.
Ballylanders running up 17 points against Monaleen is note worthy as well, but won’t have come as any surprise to followers of my legendary previews. The other game in Group B say Rathkeale run out comfortable winners against Pallasgreen but tougher tests lie ahead for the mushes.
In Group A, Ballysteen top the group on score difference after a fine performance against Galbally. Missing a number of first team starters, they produced a outstanding second half of football to run Galbally ragged and put together some fine scores. Fr Casey’s nearly threw away a 6 point lead against NCW but just about hung on to claim the win by a single point. In the final game, a late Adare rally put a gloss on scoreboard, but in reality St Kierans were always in control. Adare had gone into the game with confidence high after their best preseason in recent years, but it seems to have been a false dawn as they struggled to stay with Kierans, who themselves didn’t produce a vintage performance.
There is now a 6 week gap until the next round of games on the weekend of June 8th.
[QUOTE=“dodgy-keeper, post: 937853, member: 1552”]Great call @TreatyStones
Fair play.[/QUOTE]
Great call @Rocko I think you mean.