Na Piarsaigh and Doon Semi Final bound as SHC knockout stages confirmed

County Champions Na Piarsaigh and Doon secured big wins on Sunday to book their place in the last four of the Limerick SHC. Patrickswell and Kilmallock are in the quarter finals and will play South Liberties and Murroe-Boher respectively. South Liberties topped group two and will play their hurling in the top tier in 2019. Despite drawing with Adare, Ballybrown have been relegated to group two of the Limerick SHC for next season.

Group 1

In Claughaun, Adare and Ballybrown played out a thrilling 3-17 a piece draw to cement Ballybrown’s fate. Knowing that a win would relegate their opponents Ballybrown had three goals within the opening half an hour from brothers Bryan Griffin, Ross Griffin and Mikey Kiely. John Fitzgibbon gaoled from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time to leave the score 3-8 to 2-8 in favour of Ballybrown at half time. A Charlie McCarthy goal in the second half would prove crucial for Adare as they secured a win and their place in Group 1 for 2019.

In the first game of the double header in the Gaelic Grounds, Na Piarsaigh had a comfortable 1-21 to 1-11 win over Patrickswell. An early Peter Casey goal set the tone for Na Piarsaigh who sealed a place in the semi final with the win. Patrickswell who were guaranteed a quarter final spot prior to the game, had a goal from Aaron Gillane late in the second half.

In the second game, Doon had a well deserved 0-17 to 0-10 victory against Kilmallock to leapfrog the Balbec into second place in the group and seal a place in the last four. Doon held a 0-8 to 0-5 advantage with Barry Murphy impeccable from placed balls, he would finish the game with 0-9. Kilmallock battled back in the second half and reduced the deficit to a single point with twelve minutes remaining. However, Doon rattled off six successive scores to seal the win.

Group 2

In Group 2 of the competition, a one-point win for South Liberties over Cappamore sealed their place in the knockout stages and in Group 1 of the Limerick SHC for next season. . Shane Garry and Bill Creamer exchanged goals in the opening half as Liberties took a four point advantage into the break. Cappamore will rue missed chances down the home straight as they had Liberties on the back foot, scoring six of the final seven scores.  The result also condemns Cappamore to the Premier Intermediate Grade for 2019

Elsewhere in the group, Murroe-Boher defeated Knockainey 2-11 to 2-16 to advance to the last six. Last years Intermediate champions finished level on points with table toppers South Liberties and had a superior scoring difference but were ousted by their head-to-head result. Murroe had first half goals from Seanie Tobin and Mikey Ryan and now face Kilmallock in the County Quarter Final.

In the groups other game that would turn out to be a dead rubberafter other results in the groups saw Monaleen record a narrow 1-15 to 0-17 victory over Ahane. Ahane were overly reliant on the frees of Tom Morrissey as he had eight of their ten opening first half points from frees. The sides went into the break level 1-7 to 0-10 after Conor Nicholas goaled for Monaleen. David Moloney would fire over the winner for Monaleen near the end.