Limerick PIHC Final Preview | Mungret St Pauls and Cappamore do battle for Senior Promotion

Mungret St Pauls and Cappamroe meet this Sunday in the Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Final this Sunday.

Earmarked as the curtain raiser for the senior final in the TUS Gaelic Grounds this weekend, the premier intermediate decider between Mungret St Pauls and Cappamore could steal the show with the championship arguably the highlight of Limerick hurling since its inception in 2014.

For Mungret, it will be a case of second time lucky as they hope to avenge the defeat they suffered at the hands of Kildimo Pallaskenry in last year’s decider.

Cappamore are no strangers to the PIHC final either having competed in the 2016 decider against Monaleen. But while promotion was secured prior to that game with two moving to the senior ranks, this Sunday’s clash is a winner takes all affair.

Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Winners

• 2020: Kildimo Pallaskenry
• 2019: Blackrock
• 2018: Garryspillane
• 2017: Murroe Boher
• 2016: Monaleen
• 2015: Bruree
• 2014: Bruff

Mungret St Pauls have undoubtedly been the standout team in the division and even hold a win over this weekend’s opponents. They started their 2021 season with a comprehensive 6-17 to 1-16 win over Murroe Boher in the opening round before beating Cappamore by two points to ensure their semi-final spot.

They made it three from three to top their group before overwhelming Glenroe in the semi-finals with a 1-18 to 0-11 victory to reach a second successive final.

Cappamore started their campaign with a 3-18 to 2-16 win over Knockainey before the Mungret reversal. But they bounced back with a three point win over Murroe to seal their spot in the last four. The men from the east saved their best for the semi-finals as they eased past Newcastle West and into the final with twelve points to spare, running out 1-18 to 1-6 victors.

Recent Meetings

• 2021: Mungret St Pauls 1-18 : 2-13 Cappamore
• 2020: Mungret St Pauls 1-18 : 3-12 Cappamore
• 2019: Mungret St Pauls 1-16 : 0-12 Cappamore

Cappamore will be looking to return to the top tier after suffering relegation in 2018, ending a two year stint in the senior ranks. But Mungret have had the better of recent encounters, defeating Cappamore in their first game back in the premier intermediate championship. The sides played out a draw in the championship last summer while Mungret maintained their unbeaten record against Cappamore earlier this year.

And few will begrudge Mungret holding the favourites tag as one of two teams to still hold a 100% record across the top four tiers in the Limerick hurling championships.

But Cappamore will certainly have their say and if their earlier meeting is anything to go by, the curtain raiser could well usurp the main event.

Mungret St Pauls take on Cappamore in the 2021 Premier Intermediate Hurling Final on Sunday October 24 at 1.30pm in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

Watch live on Limerick GAA TV