LAST weekend competitive football returned in Limerick as twelve games took place across the divisions.
There is little rest for the losing teams in the top two grades as they face into their final game already with relegation play-offs or knockout places on the line.
Below we look ahead to this weekend’s ties.
Senior Football Championship
Fr Caseys v Na Piarsaigh (Group 2)
Friday August 21 at 7.30pm in Mick Neville Park
Fr Caseys kick off thier 2020 campaign as they meet Na Piarsaigh in Clarina this Friday evening.
Casyes had the luxury of watching the Caherdavin side last weekend as Adare had 16-points to spare in their win.
That victory, allied with Caseys 2019 group stage form has them as heavy favourites to send Na Piarsaigh to the relegation play-offs at this early stage.
The Abbeyfeale side will have been highly disappointed by the manner of their loss to St Kierans in the semi-finals last year after winning four of their group games and will be keen to avenge that early exit this time around.
Fr Caseys to hit the ground running.
Monaleen v St Kierans (Group 3)
Saturday August 22 at 4pm in Mick Neville Park
The first of two games on Saturday is the Group 3 clash of Monaleen and St Kierans.
After a somewhat surprising loss to Galbally in the first round, St Kierans now have their backs to the walls.
They meet a Monaleen side who will be desperate to improve on recent performances in the SFC as they have rarely looked like the 2016 winning side since that victory.
They did defeat a fancied St Kierans side in the 2018 quarter-finals and pushed Adare hard in the subsequent semi-final.
Successive Premier U21 final appearances hints at some new blood in the club and with Kierans having to cope without key men, Monaleen should set up a top-of-the-table clash with Galbally next week.
Ballylanders v Galtee Gaels (Group 4)
Saturday August 22 at 6pm in Kilfinane
Later on Saturday evening, the all South Derby of Ballylanders and Galtee Gaels takes centre stage.
In their return to the senior ranks, Galtee Gaels lost to Oola by seven points in Hospital.
However, the margin of victory doesn’t reflect the standing of the game with Galtee Gaels wasteful in front of goal throughout.
That experience should stand to them and will have to as they face a seasoned Ballylanders side.
They will be buoyed by the success of the Glenroe hurlers earlier this Autumn and will look to build on that momentum.
It is only six years since they were crowned champions, while they reached the final 24 months ago.
Yet, I see little separating these sides and fancy a draw.
Ballysteen v Drom Broadford (Group 1)
Sunday August 23 in Newcastle West at 2pm
On Sunday afternoon, its a West derby as Ballysteen begin their season against Drom Broadford. Drom were on the wrong side of a 2-12 to 1-3 scoreline against Newcastle West the last time out and that does not bode well for them with relegation looming once more.
Having just escaped last year in the relegation final, Drom need a win on Sunday to avoid that faith once more as they play a Ballysteen side who have reached successive quarter-finals.
However, Ballysteen are yet to defeat Drom since their promotion in 2008, losing to the red, black and amber side in each of their first five seasons at the grade.
Indeed, that 2013 meeting was the last time the sides met in the championship and a lot as changed in the meantime.
As such, Ballysteen are favourites to get that elusive win and book a place in the knockout stages.
Intermediate Football Championship
On Thursday evening, Rathkeale and Moutcolllins kicked off proceedings, the first group game of Group 1. In the end Rathkeale ran out 1-14 to 1-5 winners with Mountcollins now to face Claughaun on Tuesday evening.
Gerald Griffins v Pallasgreen (Group 2)
Saturday August 22 at 6pm in Adare
The first game of Group 2 takes place this weekend with the meeting of Gerald Griffins and Pallasgreen. After a delayed start, Gerald Griffins will be eager to get their campaign off to a god start after going so close to earnig promotion last year. Galtee Gaels needed a replay to overcome the West side and they will be there or thereabouts once again this year.
Their opponents Pallasgreen will be big underdogs but should be buoyed by the fact that their hurlers are safely through to the knockout stages of the Interediate Championship. In a group that will be played off in the space of seven days, a win to start is vital but Griffins will be favoured to come away with the two points.
Glin v Bruff (Group 3)
Saturday August 22 in Feenagh at 6pm
After their heavy loss to St Senans last weekend, Glin are back in action with everything on the line against Bruff.
Bruff know a win will see them through prior to their clash with St Senans while Glin need a win to avoid the relegation deciders.
Both sides have had mixed seasons in recent years but Bruff will have plenty of players who have played three rounds of hurling already.
Gglin will also have the added advantage of playing football last weeknd.
Yet, Bruff will be expected to advance with the win.
Kildimo Pallaskenry v Monaleen (Group 4)
Sunday August 23 in Clarina at 1pm
Kildimo Pallaskenry begin the championship against a Monaleen side who were on the receiving end of a 4-9 to 0-5 loss against Mungret last weeekend.
Monaleen could also lose a number of players on Friday night when their seniors are in action in the SFC.
As such it does not bode well for Monaleen who face a Kildimo Pallaskenry side with a year’s experience in the championship under their belts.
It is an uphill task for last years Junior champions against the 2018 kingpins and I expect the former to come out on top.
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