PREVIEW: Fr Caseys and Monaleen battle it out in the Limerick SFC quarter-final

Fr Caseys and Monaleen meet in the first of this year’s Limerick SFC quarter-final this Friday night.

The victor of the clash under the lights in the LIT Gaelic Grounds will go one further than 2020 when both were knocked out at the last eight stage.

Monaleen made it two from two in the group stages after receiving a bye in the opening round. They made light work of Ballylanders in round two winning out 2-11 to 0-5. They topped the table by virtue of beating Claughaun by three in their second game. Those victories followed their triumph in the League as they stopped Newcastle West’s bid for five in a row.

Their opponents Fr Caseys had a mixed time of it in the group stages, winning their opener comfortably before being well beaten by Newcastle West. Against Galbally, the West side mixed an attacking threat with a solid defence to earn a 15-point win. However, against NCW, they trailed from start to finish.

As mentioned above, both sides will be looking to go one step further this year after Monaleen were beaten by Ballylanders last year while Caseys fell to Ballysteen in 2020. This came after both sides topped their respective groups with a brace of group stage wins. Their last meeting in the quarter-final came in 2010 when Monaleen were 0-11 to 0-9 winners. The City side went on to win the championship that year.

Recent meetings

• 2019: Fr Caseys 0-13 : 1-6 Monaleen
• 2017: Monaleen 4-15 : 1-10 Fr Caseys
• 2016: Monaleen 0-12 : 1-7 Fr Caseys
• 2011: Monaleen 0-10 : 0-10 Fr Caseys
• 2010 QF: Monaleen 0-11 : 0-9 Fr Caseys
• 2009: Fr Caseys 0-14 : 1-9 Monaleen
• 2008: Fr Caseys 2-6 : 1-8 Monaleen

The last meeting of the teams came in 2019 when Fr Caseys were four point winners. Caseys would go on to finish second in the group that year as Monaleen finished fifth, missing out on the knockout stages. That game aside, Monaleen have dominated the recent meetings between the teams, winning four on the bounce from 2010-2017. However, Caseys were victorious when the sides met in 2008 and 09′.

For the West side, a place in the last four has proved elusive with their previous appearance in the semi-finals coming in 2014 after they topped their group. Fr Caseys have to go all the way back to 2008 for their previous quarter-final win, that coming against Pallasgreen after a replay.

Their opponents have a far better recent record in the knockout stages, appearing in the semi-finals in four consecutive years from 2015-2018. While they were only successful in one of those ties, they went on to win the competition in 2016. Their last quarter-final win came in 2018 when they beat St Kierans 3-13 to 2-9. They lost out to eventual winners Adare in the SF.

Needless to say a huge prize awaits the winner after a below par 2020.

Fr Caseys v Monaleen in the Limerick Senior Football Championship qurter-final throws in this Friday at the LIT Gaelic Grounds at 7.30pm.

It is a ticket only event with tickets available for purchase below.

Fr Caseys v Monaleen Tickets