“Both teams will have to work for everything” | Monaleen’s Lorcan Lyons expects titanic battle from Bruff in PIHC final

The side will be hoping to get back to the SHC at the first time of asking after suffering relegation in 2021.

Monaleen and Bruff clash this Saturday in Fitzgerald Park in Kilmallock with promotion to the senior hurling championship on offer.

The aforementioned teams made up the top two in the group stages of the premier intermediate hurling championship. They faced tough oppositions in Newcastle West and Effin respectively in the semi-finals but managed to progress to the final unscathed.

It’s a competition like no other in Limerick with the top four sides automatically qualifying to the semi-finals with each facing each other at least once in the competition.

Monaleen were getting a taste of the PIHC for the first time in six years and captain Lorcan Lyons admitted that he enjoyed the opportunity of playing the amount of games he did at this level in comparison to recent years at senior.

“Once you get into it (knockouts) it doesn’t really matter if you’re first or fourth, second or third, it doesn’t matter where you finish in Premier Intermediate, it’s all about just getting to the semi-final and you’re in with a chance.”

“The seven games is great compared to the last few years which was kind of interrupted with Covid and stuff, you didn’t really have much chance to get into a rhythm whereas this time at least you could try a few things and lads get game time, you could get a proper feel for it so yeah, it was great to get into the position we’re in now.”

Already playing against side previously in the same year can be an eye-opener to how their opponents may play in the final which is exactly the case for both sides here.

Their previous encounter finished in Monaleen’s favour by a single point and Lyons believes that both sides will have to give everything on Saturday to be in with a chance of winning.

“That’s probably the good thing about Premier Intermediate, you play every team so you’re kind of familiar with them. But they’re (Bruff) brilliant, their inside forward line, they’re a young panel but they’re also kind of mixed with maturity as well, sure they’ve a four time All-Star as well!

“Nothing will be handed to us so both teams will have to work for everything to make of it.”

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Monaleen face Bruff at 3pm on Saturday in Kilmallock in the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship final.