Key Battles | Kildimo Pallaskenry v Fr Caseys | Limerick SFC quarter-final

There is a novel pairing in the Limerick SFC quarter-final this Saturday.

For the first time, Fr Caseys and Kildimo Pallaskenry will meet in the knockout stages of the Limerick SFC as they face off in the quarter-finals.

Newcastle West will host the clash of the sides this Saturday at 4pm.

Fr Caseys just missed out on the semi-finals as they fell to Newcastle West by a solitary point in their round five clash last Sunday.

Kildimo Pallaskenry booked their place in the knockout stages at the first time of asking as their draw with Ballysteen was enough for third in group two.

Incredibly, the sides met in the 2018 Limerick JAFC semi-final where KP saw off Fr Caseys second side 3-6 to 1-8. The City outfit went on to claim county honours and followed it up with the Intermediate championship last year.

Fr Caseys will rightly be fancied to progress but KP have shown in recent years that they are difficult to beat, in either code.

Ahead of the game, we look at some of the potential key match ups.

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Midfield

Cathal Downes and Conor Staff (Kildimo Pallaskenry) v Adrian Enright & Eliah Riordan (Fr Caseys)

Both sides could confidently say that midfield is their biggest strength looking at the four man set to match up on Saturday. Adrian Enright is the standout name amongst the four with the Abbeyfeale native a key component to the Limerick senior side in their rise up the Divisions. He has continued that form into the club championship but has been ably assisted by Eliah Riordan, a Limerick minor football captain. Both are equally adept at running hard lines as they are delivering early ball into the forwards.

Conversely, the Kildimo Pallaskenry duo provide huge pace and power to the middle third as ball carriers. Although both are well able to kick long, they are more reliant on their running game which they have shown to devastating effect in their group games thus far. Downes is also a brilliant long range free taker, as is Riordan.

Who gets the upper hand here will likely go a long way in deciding the outcome of the game.

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Tony McCarthy v Dylan Quirke

If the teams play as they are expected to be named, there will be an intriguing battle on the Kildimo Pallaskenry 45′ with Tony McCarthy opposed by Fr Caseys’ Dylan Quirke. Jack Mullane did occupy the space against Ballysteen to pick up Darragh Ranahan with McCarthy allowed to sit and KP may opt for this once more.

However, if McCarthy and Quirke match up it will be a fascinating watch with the latter really coming into his own as the conductor of the Caseys forward unit this year. Not only does he orchestrate, he has added a scoring element to his game from centre forward.

McCarthy has been a regular in defence for Limerick over the years but often finds himself in attacking situations which may put Quirke on the back foot. If that happens, Caseys’ flow may be disrupted but if Quirke can get on enough ball, he is likely to cause damage.

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Who picks Peter Nash?

There is no doubting who the star of the Kildimo Pallaskenry forward ranks is with Peter Nash their scorer in chief in their rise from Junior B to Senior. The intercounty forward has continued to rack up the scores in the top tier kicking 0-6 in their promotion clincher against Ballysteen. Nash will be named at full forward but will roam which could see a number of Casey’s players pick him up.

Fiachra Cotter is likely to be named at full back and would be the obvious choice to follow the KP man. Sean Kilbridge has been sensational at wing back but could be reverted onto Nash, as could Daniel Daly, who would have played on Limerick teams with the KP man. However, Daly has operated in the forward ranks at times this year and John Colbert may want to keep him there. Robert Browne is another who could be tasked with Nash.

Nonetheless, whoever is tasked with putting the shackles on Nash will need to be at the top of their game to curb his influence.

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Who takes Rory O’Brien?

Similarly at the other end of the field, Rory O’Brien has been sensational for Fr Caseys. Often the only player in the full forward, O’Brien has caused havoc for the Abbeyfeale men this summer. With pace and power, O’Brien has the physical attributes to take on any full back in the county but it his accuracy from foot that makes him so dangerous. Like Con O’Callaghan, O’Brien always takes his man on, only then settling for a point.

Lorcan O’Leary will play full back for KP and has the size to deal with O’Brien. Yet, his pace could cause issues there and James Pomeroy might be the man to pick him after transitioning into the full back line. Jack Mullane is another option. Liam O’Sullivan might match up the best to O’Brien but his ability to run from wing back is probably too valuable to lose.

But as is the case with Nash, whoever is chosen will have their hands full.