IHC Semi-Finals Preview | Will Na Piarsaigh and Croagh Kilfinny remain perfect or can Granagh Ballingarry or Pallagreen reach the decider

Na Piarsaigh take on Granagh Ballingarry while Croagh Kilfinny face Pallasgreen.

The Limerick Intermediate Hurling Championship final pairing will be confirmed this weekend when the semi-finals take place on Sunday.

Clarina will be the venue for the first clash between Na Piarsaigh and Granagh Ballingarry while Claughaun will host Croagh Kilfinny’s clash with Pallasgreen.

The games throw in at 1pm and 3pm on Sunday respectively.

Na Piarsaigh v Granagh Ballingarry

(Sunday at 1pm in Clarina)

Na Piarsaigh will be the fresher of the two sides as they progressed to the semi-finals after topping their group. The side went five for five in group one, four points ahead of second placed Bruree. Along the way, the Caherdavin outfit beat Croom, Bruree, Feohanagh, Caherline and Murroe Boher.

Granagh Ballingarry, on the other hand, were convincing winners over Croom with a 3-22 to 2-13 victory last Saturday as they progressed through their semi-final. The West side have been defeated on only one occasion this year in group two, which was an opening day defeat against Croagh Kilfinny, who won each of their five games.

Paths to the Semi-Final

Na Piarsaigh

• 1-19 : 1-18 v Feohanagh (W)
• 2-19 : 0-14 v Caherline (W)
• 3-15 : 2-15 v Murroe Boher (W)
• 3-14 : 2-10 v Croom (W)
• 2-20 : 2-16 Bruree (W)

Granagh-Ballingarry

• 0-16 : 0-17 v Croagh Kilfinny (L)
• 1-23 : 2-14 v Hospital Herbertstown (W)
• 3-14 : 0-13 v Knockaderry (W)
• 1-18 : 0-14 v Pallasgreen (W)
• 0-30 : 2-16 v Kilmallock (W)
• QF – 3-22 : 2-13 v Croom (W)

Na Piarsaigh, alongside Croagh Kilfinny, are the only teams to remain perfect to the last four stage and the 2020 runners up will be desperate to get back to that stage. But Granagh Ballingarry have won five on the trot and were unlucky to not come through their semi-final last year.

As such, there promises to be little between the sides who look set for a cracking contest.

Croagh-Kilfinny v Pallasgreen

(Sunday at 3pm in Claughaun)

As well as Na Piarsaigh, Croagh-Kilfinny also topped their group with a flawless record and proceeded straight to the semi-final. Granagh Ballingarry, Kilmallock, Knockaderry and this weekend’s opponents Pallasgreen were all bested en route to the semi-final.

Pallasgreen overcame the obstacle of a quarter-final against Bruree last weekend, winning the tie 0-17 to 0-11. The East side made it out of their group on points difference to the expense of Knockaderry, as their round one victory over the West side saw them qualify on head to head with four points.

Paths to the Semi-Final

Croagh-Kilfinny

• 0-17 : 0-16 v Granagh-Ballingarry (W)
• 0-19 : 1-15 v Pallasgreen (W)
• 0-18 : 0-14 v Hospital Herbertstown (W)
• 4-22 : 0-16 v Kilmallock (W)
• 0-22 : 0-16 v Knockaderry (W)

Pallasgreen

• 0-18 : 2-9 v Knockaderry (W)
• 1-15 : 0-19 v Croagh-Kilfinny (L)
• 0-12 : 2-12 v Kilmallock (L)
• 0-14 : 1-18 v Granagh-Ballingarry (L)
• 0-27 : 1-18 v Hospital Herbertstown (W)

Despite their stuttering group stage run, Pallasgreen’s win over Bruree should provide ample confidence with Croagh Kilfinny without a game since the middle of September. Furthermore, the two sides have already faced each other this campaign, with Croagh-Kilfinny edging the tie by a solitary point.

And a similar performance from Pallasgreen on Sunday could be enough to upset the odds, anything else and Croagh are likely to return to the final.