ONCE again, the Gaelic Grounds will be at the centre of lively action this weekend with the staging of both semi-finals of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship.
This afternoon (Saturday, 3pm), holders Na Piarsaigh re-enter the arena against Doon, while the following afternoon it’s Kilmallock against Patrickswell (3pm).
As it’s a ‘result on the day’ scenario, there is provision for extra-time and penalties in both fixtures.
Doon, who are the only one of the remaining quartet never have to annexed the title, are keenly aware of the mammoth task ahead.
“After our little trimming against Kilmallock (3-22 to 0-12) in the first round, if you told me we’d be in a county semi-final I would have bitten your hand off. I don’t want to harp on about injuries and that, and lads coming back, but in fairness if we can produce our second-half performance from out there over 60 minutes, we will give bags of it to anyone,” said manager Fergie O’Loughlin.
He added: “I’m just very pleased for the lads. That was our objective at the start of the year, to get to a county semi-final.”
Reflecting on their quarter-final win over fellow parishioners Ballybrown, the ‘Well manager Eamon Kelly told the Irish Examiner: “We finished very strong, but we are leaving teams in it. Going forward, if you have the likes of Kilmallock, who we’re playing in the semi-final, we mightn’t survive.”
“We need everybody. It’s going to take 20 players if we’re going to get a result.”
In the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship, favourites Effin run up against Blackrock in Bruff this afternoon (Saturday, 2pm) to be followed (4pm) by the clash of Bruff and Dromin/Athlacca at Kilmallock’s Fitzgerald Park.
Both finals will be staged as an attractive double-header at headquarters on October 28.
Meanwhile, the semi-finals of the Intermediate Hurling Championship are Croagh/Kilfinny v Hospital/Herberstown and Granagh/Ballingarry v Murroe/Boher, both today in Ballyagran (1pm) and Fedamore (4pm), respectively.
