2018 Limerick Championships Review

The 2018 Limerick Senior Hurling and Football championships would ultimately finish the same as its predecessor with Na Piarsaigh and Adare recording back to back championships wins. It was Na Piarsaigh’s first ever time retaining the title they have won five times since their maiden success in 2011. For Adare it was a third consecutive county title after following up their intermediate success in 2016 with a first senior title in 2017.

The 2018 Senior Hurling Championship took on a new format with the top tier divided into Senior A and B. Na Piarsaigh and Doon would secure semi final berths by virtue of finishing in the top two of A while 3^rd and 4^th placed Kilmallock and Patrickswell earned places in the quarter finals. They were joined there by South Liberties who earned promotion to Senior A for 2019 and Murroe Boher. Ballybrown were relegated to Senior B after failing to pick up a single win.

In the quarters, the gulf in class was evident as Kilmallock and Patrickswell made light work of Murroe Boher and Liberties respectively. In the Semi-Finals, Na Piarsaigh reached their second consecutive final overcoming Kilmallock while Doon joined them with a classic win over Patrickswell in a game that was streamed exclusively live by Sporting Limerick.

Doon’s final appearance was their first since 2001 as they looked to win their first ever Daly Cup. However, Na Piarsaigh proved too strong and secured back-to-back titles under lights in the Gaelic Grounds. They would defeat Clonoulty Rossmore in the Munster semi-final before succumbing to Ballygunner in the Munster final.

In the Football defending champions Adare and Newcastle emerged from their groups with perfect 100% records to advance straight to the last four. From group 1, Ballylanders finished runners up where they were paired with Ballysteen in the quarter finals. Group 2 runners up St Kieran’s faced Monaleen in the quarters in another double header that was streamed live from Kilmallock by Sporting Limerick.

Ballylanders and Monaleen emerged as winners where they would meet Newcastle West and Adare in the semi finals respectively. Landers shocked Newcastle in Mick Neville Park to earn a spot in their first final since 2013 where they were joined by Adare.

In the final, which was also streamed exclusively live by Sporting Limerick, Ballylanders made a strong start where they held a four-point lead, but Adare showed their class in the second half with seven unanswered scores before Charlie McCarthy rounded off the game with the games only goal. Adare bowed out of Munster Championship in the semi final at the hands of The Nire.

Garrispillane will ply their trade in the senior ranks once more earning promotion after beating Bruff in the Premier Intermediate Hurling Final. Feonagh were relegated from the PIHC and will be replaced by Dromin-Athlacca who defeated Croom in the IHC final. Tournafulla were victorious in the JAHC while Cappamore ran out winners in the JBHC.

In the football, Gallbally overcame Rathkeale to return to the Senior Championship. They replace St Patricks who lost out in the relegation final to Na Piarsaigh. Kildimo-Pallaskenry and Drom Broadford were victorious in the JAFC and JBFC respectively.