IN THE interest of fairness – and with qualification very much on the line – all three concluding Group One fixtures in the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship will be played simultaneously on Saturday at 5pm.
While unbeaten Kilmallock (semi-final) and holders Na Piarsaigh (quarter-final) are assured of places in the knock-out phase, the other two remaining qualification places from the top-tier are on offer to Doon, Patrickswell, and Ahane, with only Kildimo/Pallaskenry (KP) out of the reckoning.
Wins for Doon against Ahane in Cappamore and Patrickswell over KP at Kilmallock’s Fitzgerald Park (where the curtain raiser at 3.15pm is the tasty Premier Intermediate clash of Bruff and Effin) would be the form results and earn the leading pair their places in the quarters.
The stand-out fixture is between the leading duo of Kilmallock and Na Piarsaigh in Doon, with Johnny Murphy of Glenroe as referee.
Shane O’Neill’s side slipped up in the opening round against the ‘Well but are fine-tuned enough now to account for The Balbec and make it through to yet another semi-final.
Captain Mike Casey has been a commanding figure at full-back for the defending champions.
It’s predicted that Kilmallock, Na Piarsaigh, Doon, and Patrickswell will qualify from Group One.
In Group Two, Brian Begley’s Mungret St Paul’s are already into the quarters but will hope to round-off their regular campaign with a win over arch-rivals Ballybrown in Claughaun on Sunday (2pm).
If this were to happen, the Clarina outfit would be out and the qualification door would be left ajar for Adare who clash with Monaleen at the same time in Bruff.
The tie between Garryspillane and South Liberties this Thursday is only of relegation interest, with the latter likely to drop a grade for next season.
Limerick has its quarter-finals listed for the opening weekend of October, with the semis a fortnight later and the decider on that month’s Bank Holiday Weekend at the Gaelic Grounds.
Across senior/premier intermediate/intermediate/junior, there are tremendous fixtures across the weekend. Visit LimerickGAA.ie for full details.
