Ballybrown and Newcastle West take one step towards knockout stages with Thursday wins while Nap make it four from four in IHC

There were four games played across the top tiers in the Limerick Hurling Championships on Thursday evening.

Wins for Ballybrown and Newcastle West pushed them closer to the knockout stages in their respective divisions while Kiltely Dromkeen’s victory keeps them alive in their promotion hopes.

In the intermediate championship, Na Piarsaigh secured a semi-final spot with a game to spare.

Limerick SHC

Ballybrown were 0-21 to 2-12 victors over Garryspillane in Caherconlish. The City side were defeated in round three but bounced back to move top of the table with just one game to play. Ballybrown held a slender 0-11 to 0-10 lead at the break but quickfire goals from the Bouncers gave them the advantage after the restart with Dylan O’Shea and Callum Sheehan finding the target. Then Colin Coughlan was sent off for the City men. But that seemed to spur them into life as they hit seven on the trot to move four clear as Garryspillane only added a point after taking the lead with Mark Quinlan also sent off.

Ballybrown play South Liberties in the final round where a win will confirm their quarter-final spot while Garryspillane need a win over KP and a loss for Ballybrown to make the top two.

Limerick PIHC

Newcastle West moved joint top of the Premier Intermediate Championship with a second successive win. The Magpies were 0-19 to 1-14 winners over Bruff, taking a huge step towards the knockout stages in the process. An early goal had Bruff 1-4 to 0-3 to the good inside a quarter of an hour but they failed to kick on with Newcastle West taking the impetus. They were two clear at the interval leading 0-11 to 1-6. Bruff briefly regained the lead with twenty to play but Newcastle West replied with three on the bounce and didn’t relinquish the advantage, holding out for a two point win.

The result leaves NCW on seven points, level with Glenroe while Bruff remain on five. Two rounds of the PIHC remain but Newcastle West are well positioned for a second successive semi-final.

Limerick IHC

Na Piarsaigh made it four on the trot in the Intermediate Championship with a comprehensive 3-14 to 2-10 win over Croom in Mungret. The result guarantees them top spot with a round to play. Yet, it was Croom that made the fast start as they raced into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead, dominating proceedings. But a double from David Sheppard ignited the Caherdavin men who recovered for a 2-4 to 1-6 lead at the break. They continued in this vein after the restart, hitting nine of the next twelve scores with Jim Beary bagging their third goal.

Croom did get a consolation goal near the end but they are now up against it as they sit in fourth in the table with only game to play. Na Piarsaigh will move straight into the semi-finals regardless of their final day result.

Limerick JAHC

Kilteely Dromkeen kept their qualification hopes alive with a 0-22 to 0-14 win over Rathkeale in group four of the Junior A Championship. The eight point victory moves KD onto four points, level with Tournafulla and Old Christians, who meet tonight, with a game to play. Kilteely Dromkeen face Tour in the last round needing the West side to lose on Saturday and then defeat the 2018 champions.