PREVIEW | Final pairing in Limerick Premier Intermediate Championship to be determined by interesting semi-final clashes

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Four teams remain in the hunt for promotion to the top tier of the Limerick Hurling Championships.

The Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship finalists will be confirmed this weekend with both semi-finals down for decision.

The ties come just a week after the final round where the remaining four sides were determined. Monaleen were comprehensive winners over Effin to secure top spot in the championship. Results elsewhere, means the teams will meet once more this Sunday in the semi-final.

Round seven winners Bruff and Newcastle West meet in the first last four tie after they overcame Cappamore and Knockainey respectively.

Newcastle West are the only team left that reached this stage last year. Bruff contested the 2021 relegation final where they beat Murroe Boher, Monaleen were relegated from the senior ranks while Effin were crowned Intermediate champions.

Newcastle West v Effin

Saturday October 15 at 4pm in Ballyagran

An intriguing battle awaits in Ballyagran as two of the pre championship favourites fo head to head. As mentioned, Newcastle West reached the final four of the competition in their first year where they were eventually beaten by Cappamore.

Conversely, Bruff needed to see off Murroe Boher to preserve their premier intermediate status that they have held since 2018 following relegation from the senior ranks.

Bruff were the first team to win the championship in 2014 which was followed by three seasons in the top flight. Newcastle West booked their place in the PIHC ranks in 2020 after defeated Na Piarsaigh in the Intermediate decider, a year after falling to Glenroe in the final.

📺 | Newcastle West take on Bruff in the first of this weekend's Limerick PIHC semi-finals! Preview: https://t.co/p8eZ3jXfs5 https://t.co/PmoaRcyQID

— Sporting LK (@SportingLK) October 13, 2022

This year, the sides finished level on nine points in the championship, winning four games, losing two and drawing one with Bruff finishing ahead of the Magpies on scoring difference.

Paths to the Semi-Final

Newcastle West

• 2-9 : 0-15 Glenroe (D)
• 1-21 : 0-17 Cappamore (W)
• 1-11 : 2-17 Monaleen (L)
• 1-15 : 0-13 Effin (W)
• 0-19 : 1-14 Bruff (W)
• 1-16 : 3-13 Dromin-Athlacca (L)
• 3-21 : 1-8 Knockainey (W)

Bruff

• 2-17 : 0-12 Effin (W)
• 0-22 : 2-16 Knockainey (D)
• 1-17 : 1-14 Dromin-Athlacca (W)
• 2-17 : 0-24 Monaleen (L)
• 1-14 : 0-19 Newcastle West (L)
• 1-17 : 1-14 Glenroe (W)
• 2-20 : 1-15 Cappamore (W)

However, Newcastle West were victorious when the sides met in round five claiming a narrow 0-19 to 1-14 win. Still the nature of the win highlights to a close encounter this Saturday with both sure to fancy themselves for an October 30 final berth.

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Effin v Monaleen

Sunday October 15 in Fedamore at 1pm

Just eight days after putting the South outfit to the sword in their final group game, Monaleen need a similar result to move one game closer to an immediate return to the senior ranks. After falling in the relegation final to Blackrock last year, Monaleen were the team of the group, winning all but two of their games to top the standings.

Effin, on their return to the premier intermediate ranks showed glimpses of their undoubted quality but suffered a pair of heavy defeats to Monaleen and Bruff. They were beaten by the other semi-finalist Newcastle West in round four but got the job done elsewhere to book their final four spot by finishing in fourth.

They have taken to life in the PIHC ranks much better than their 2017 season where they were relegated without a victory.

Effin

• 0-12 : 2-17 Bruff (L)
• 1-17 : 0-14 Dromin-Athlacca (W)
• 0-25 : 1-8 Knockainey (W)
• 0-13 : 1-15 Newcastle West (L)
• 1-25 : 2-15 Glenroe (W)
• 0-21 : 0-17 Cappamore (W)
• 0-11 : 1-22 Monaleen (L)

Monaleen

• 0-20 : 1-15 Cappamore (W)
• 1-18 : 2-21 Glenroe (L)
• 2-17 : 1-11 Newcastle West (W)
• 0-24 : 2-17 Bruff (W)
• 2-14 : 0-20 Dromin-Athlacca (D)
• 0-26 : 1-13 Knockainey (W)
• 1-22 : 0-11 Effin (W)

📺 | Monaleen and Effin meet in the PIHC semi-finals, a week after their group stage clash! Preview: https://t.co/p8eZ3jXfs5 https://t.co/pGrjcL1WYb

— Sporting LK (@SportingLK) October 14, 2022

Last year, three grades separated the sides with Effin claiming Intermediate honours while Monaleen were relegated from the top tier. But now, both are just 70 minutes from the Premier Intermediate final.

Monaleen were champions in 2016 and will be confident of moving one step closer to emulating that feat following the 1-22 to 0-11 win over the same opponents last week.

But it has been proven to be difficult to beat the same team twice in a year, not to mind a week and Effin will be hopeful to have learned enough to turn the tide this Sunday.