AHEAD of the showpiece at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday is a fascinating Lyons of Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final involving Garryspillane and Newcastle West (NCW), throw-in 2pm with Eamonn Stapleton of Doon as referee.
The Bouncers (Garryspillane) are seeking an immediate return to the top-tier following last season’s unexpected relegation, and in contrast it’s all new territory for The Magpies (NCW), who have been knocking on the door repeatedly in recent times.
This Championship is the most competitive of them all as each team has seven matches before the top four emerge for the semi-finals.
NCW won all bar one (Blackrock) in the group fixtures, while ‘Spillane too lost just once (Newcastle West).
Back in August, NCW defeated Garryspillane, 0-19 to 1-12, and Derry McMahon’s side will have taken great confidence away from Carroll Park in Ballyagran. On that evening, Eoin Hurley (0-10) of NCW was the stand-out performer, while Hugh Flanagan impressed with 1-7 for the runners-up.
In close semis, NCW bettered Effin by just three points (3-13 to 2-13) and it was a similar margin of victory for Garryspillane over Bruff, 2-14 to 1-14.
Aside from prolific scorer Hurley, others of note for the westerners are Aaron Neville, Ethan Hurley, Ruadhán O’Connor, Bryan Nix, Brian Hurley (captain), Con Hayes, and Brian Foley.
Aaron Considine-managed Garryspillane (whose sister club Galbally have qualified for the Intermediate Football Final) will be without the suspended Callum Sheehan, but many others will be at the coalface of their challenge, such as Robert Sampson, Ciarán Sheehan, Declan Heavey, Dylan O’Shea, Jamie Morrissey, Mark Quinlan, Flanagan, and skipper Colin Ryan.
The prize on offer is the Michael Fox Perpetual Memorial Cup, presented by Blackrock.
In what is likely to be a tight encounter, NCW are marginally fancied to reach the promised land.
