TWO unbeaten sides, namely holders Na Piarsaigh and Doon, collide in the pick of the round three fixtures in Group One of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship at Kilmallock’s Fitzgerald Park on Friday at 7pm.
Na Piarsaigh have accounted for both Ahane and Patrickswell, while Doon have also dispatched with the challenge of the ‘Well, along with a defeat of Kilmallock.
And, while both sides are pretty much assured of advancement to the knock-out stages, neither will be interested in dropping points at this mid-way stage of competition.
Under former Wateford boss Derek McGrath, Doon have been on fire of late, helped by the current wellbeing of Eoin Fitzgibbon, Richie English, Cian O’Donovan, Chris Thomas, Darragh O’Donovan, Barry Murphy, Adam English, and Kevin Maher.
Shane O’Neill’s Na Piarsaigh too have impressed over the last while, through the likes of Mike Casey, Vince Hartigan, Tommy Grimes, William O’Donoghue, Kevin Downes, Ronan Lynch, Conor Boylan, and Will Henn.
Little will separate the pair at the weekend, with Doon given a tentative nod to cause a mild surprise.
All-Ireland Final referee Johnny Murphy (Glenroe) will officiate.
Elsewhere, Kilmallock can account for Ahane at Rathkeale’s Mick Neville Park on Thursday (7pm) and Patrickswell should have the measure of Mungret St Paul’s in Claughaun on Saturday (4pm).
Four teams advance from Group One, two to the semi-finals and two to the quarter-finals.
In Group Two (two to progress), joint leaders Ballybrown and Dromin-Athlacca are tipped to win against South Liberties and Kildimo-Pallaskenry, respectively.
And, Monaleen appear too strong for Adare.
The penultimate round of fixtures will happen the weekend after next, with the final group matches listed for the weekend ending September 22.
