AN HISTORIC 130th edition of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship is nearing a conclusion, with a couple of attractive quarter-finals listed this Sunday (October 6), followed by the semi-finals the next weekend, and the final later in the month.
Holders Na Piarsaigh and Doon have already qualified for the last four.
Na Piarsaigh will meet either Ballybrown or Kilmallock, who clash at Rathkeale’s Mick Neville Park (Sunday 5pm, referee Johnny Murphy of Ballylanders), while Doon await the winners of the earlier tie (Sunday 2pm, referee John O’Halloran of Bruree) in Bruff between Monaleen and Patrickswell.
Peter Queally’s Kilmallock and the Ciarán Carey-managed Patrickwell are both fancied to advance.
Kilmallock are currently best served by goalkeeper and captain Barry Hennessy, Paudie O’Brien, Robbie Hanley, Paddy O’Loughlin, Micheál Houlihan, Pierce Connery, Graeme Mulcahy, and Shane O’Brien,
To the fore this season for Ballybrown have been Kenny Power, Keith Punch, Colin Coughlan, Killian Gavin, Luke O’Connor, Leigh Doolin, Barry Adams, and Aidan O’Connor.
So far, Patrickswell have had solid displays from Cian Fitzgerald, Mark Carmody, Diarmuid Byrnes, Kevin O’Brien, James Carrig, Jack Kelleher, Patrick Kirby, and Cian Lynch, while Aaron Gillane has been troubled by injury for the last couple of fixtures.
Monaleen’s lead performers are Leo Morrison, Bryan Canny, Lorcan Lyons, Darragh Langan, Joesph Fitzgerald, Lochlann McHale, Matthew Fitzgerald, and Donnacha Ó Dálaigh.
On form, and given their presence in the top tier, Kilmallock and Patrickswell are both tipped to progress a step further towards ultimate success.
With remedial pitch work necessary, neither semi will be held at the Gaelic Grounds. It is, however, envisaged that the final will go ahead at the city venue.
Na Piarsaigh remain 6/5 outright favourites, followed next in the betting markets by Doon at 2/1, and then Patrickswell (9/2), followed by Kilmallock at 6/1. Ballybrown and Monaleen are quoted at huge odds of 40/1 and 50/1, respectively.
