IN A repeat of last year’s final, holders Na Piarsaigh and Patrickswell clash in the opening round of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship at the Gaelic Grounds on Friday.
The pair, along with Ahane, Doon, Kilmallock, and promoted Mungret-St Paul’s are in Group One, from which four teams qualify for the knock-out stages; two for the quarter-finals and two for the semi-finals.
Group Two, from which just two teams advance to the quarters, is comprised of Adare, Ballybrown, Dromin-Athlacca (2023 Premier Intermediate Champions), Kildimo-Pallaskenry, Monaleen, and South Liberties.
With 2016 All-Ireland winning manager Shane O’Neill at the helm, Na Piarsaigh are seeking to capture the title for the third season on the trot and a ninth occasion since the club’s breakthrough back in 2011.
The side boasts of county performers Mike Casey, Will O’Donoghue, and Conor Boylan, along with Vince Harington, David Dempsey, Ronan Lynch, and Adrian Breen.
Peter Casey is a long-term injury concern.
Ciaran Carey-managed Patrickswell will have county stars Cian Lynch, Diarmaid Byrnes, and Aaron Gillane on duty, along with Mark Carmody, Nigel Foley, Jack Kelleher, and John Kirby.
Na Piarsaigh are fancied to collect the points on offer.
Eamon Stapleton (Doon) will referee.
Elsewhere, Doon are given a tentative nod to surprise Kilmallock at the Gaelic Grounds this Thursday, and Mungret-St Paul’s should have the measure of Ahane in Claughaun on Saturday.
In Group Two, the pick of the fixtures is the clash of deadly rivals Adare and Kildimo-Pallaskenry at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale on Friday.
Louis Mulqueen-managed Adare are tipped for the win.
Elsewhere, Dromin-Athlacca (DA) runup against South Liberites at Fitzgerald Park, Kilmallock tonight (Thursday) and Ballybrown clash with Monaleen in Fedamore on Saturday.
Early season form suggests wins for DA and Monaleen.
All fixtures are timed to start at 7pm.
The eventual winners will be home to the Waterford representatives in the opening round of the Munster Championship in November.
