Munster opponents confirmed for two of Limerick’s hurling champions

Two of Limerick’s three representatives in the Munster Club Hurling Championships now know their opponents.

With the Cork Senior and Junior Championships coming to a conclusion over the weekend, the path to a Munster final has become clearer for Kilmallock and Caherline.

Kilmallock will have home advantage in their Senior Championship semi-final tie as they welcome the Cork champions on the weekend of December 11/12. The Balbec will face Midleton in that last four clash as they overcame Glen Rovers in the Cork PSHC Final on Sunday.

Kilmallock will enter the Munster championship for the first time since 2014 when they were crowned champions, beating Sarsfields in Kilmallock in the semi-final before overcoming Cratloe in the Gaelic Grounds in the final.

The Limerick champions have won Munster in five of the last ten years with Na Piarsaigh winning in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017.

Mungret St Pauls will also have home advantage in the Intermediate Championship when they welcome the Cork champions on the same weekend. Castlelyons and Courcey Rovers will meet in that decider this weekend giving them a two week break until the provincial clash. Castlelyons defeated Ballinhassig in their semi-final over the weekend to join Courcey Rovers in the final.

Mungret were crowned Intermediate champions in 2016 with premier intermediate champions Monaleen representing the county that year. Effin were the last Limerick team to win at the Intermediate grade in Munster, claiming the title in 2011.

Caherline were the last Limerick hurling side to book passage to the Munster stages as they beat St Kierans in the Junior Championship just over a week ago. The East side will also face Cork opposition but unlike Kilmallock and Mungret St Pauls, Caherline will be on the road.

They will travel Leeside to take on Ballygiblin, who were crowned Cork Junior Champions at the weekend after defeating Dromtarriffe.

Blackrock were the last Limerick side to win the Munster Junior A championship, taking the title in 2009.

The senior, intermediate and junior A Munster hurling championship finals will be played on the weekend of January 8/9.