Knockout picture taking shape in Limerick hurling championships

There was action across all seven Limerick hurling championships last weekend, with some clubs facing into a long winter of what if’s and regret, while others still hold that belief that their best is yet to come.  
 
At Senior, Group 1 was already decided ahead of round 5. Doon and Na Piarsaigh advance straight to semi-finals with identical 80% win rate. Kilmallock, who got the better of Patrickswell in their final group game of the season, will await the draw for the quarter-finals along with the record winners, the Well. 
 
Ahane, who closed their season with an impressive success over Doon, may be left frustrated that they failed to collect the points when the heat was on against Na Piarsaigh, Kilmallock and Patrickswell. Their aim of derailing the big-four will once again be the aim in 2025.  
 
Mungret St. Paul’s fall back to Group 2, having failed to hit their peak, perhaps unable to recover after suffering two one-point defeats in rounds one and two. They’ll be among the favourites to win Group 2 next season. 
 
Replacing them will be Ballybrown, who didn’t do things the easy way. Defeated by Adare in round four, they just about saw off Dromin Athlacca, with fourteen men, to win the group an return to Group 1, which they were relegated from in 2021.  
 
Joining the Clarina men in the last six are City rivals, Monaleen. The youthful side, finish second having lost the head-to-head tie in round one but have now won four games in a row and will relish a first quarter final appearance under this format. 
 
Kildimo Pallaskenry frustratingly finish third, five points not enough after an inconsistent campaign. Injuries played their part but their two defeats were to the sides who finished above them.  
 
Dromin Athlacca were in dreamland after two rounds, but three successive defeats mean that their return to Senior wasn’t a more fruitful one. They’ll hope to kick on next summer, having showed plenty to merit their place at the grade. 
 
Adare, thanks to back-to-back successes to close the group, survive in senior hurling. While some may have fancied them to challenge the top placings, they’ll know they weren’t switched on from the first minute of this campaign.  
 
South Liberties, who appeared in the semi-finals just two seasons ago, will drop back to Intermediate. However, even during that 2022 campaign, they had their challenges and both 2023 and 2024 have proved. One victory and one draw in their last 11 Championship outings shows that they have been trending downwards. A reset for a club with such a rich history may not be a bad thing. They won the Intermediate grade in 2009 and had been in the senior grade ever since.  
 
Plenty have come and gone with Adare, Ahane, Doon, Kilmallock, Na Piarsaigh and Patrickswell able to claim a longer current run at the top table.  
 
Meanwhile, the Premier Intermediate grade is shaping up towards the knockout phase. Newcastle West kept their 100% record. Six wins out of six will only matter if they can win their semi-final, though they’ve a final outing to make it a perfect seven yet to come.  
 
Garryspillane, Effin and Bruff all remain on track to claim the other semi-final spots, something which Granagh Ballingarry haven’t given up on. The west side eliminated Blackrock with a win last weekend, though they may need favours from elsewhere to sneak into the top four. First order of business will be to defeat Blackrock in the final round.  
 
With Blackrock both safe from the drop and the semi-finals out of reach, they’ll be frustrated, especially after missing out in last years final by just a point. Beneath them are Na Piarsaigh and Glenroe, who, at the time of writing are due to meet in their delayed Round 1 clash. The winner of that will be safe with the head-to-head rule proving highly important once again. 
 
At Intermediate level, the final six sides have been confirmed. Murroe-Boher and Feohanagh had taken care of business before suffering final round defeats, and are into the semi-finals. Knockainey will face Bruree, who benefited from Murroe’s surprising lacklustre display. Cappamore will meet Croagh Kilfinny who are taking aim at a fourth successive final at this grade – and a fifth in as many seasons. 
 
Disappointment again for Pallasgreen, Hospital Herbertstown and especially Croom, who missed out by the narrowest of margins. Mungret St. Paul’s will be frustrated not to have made the last six, but a first season at the grade for a second team was all about running a steady ship.  
 
Kilmallock and St. Kieran’s will meet in the play-off final, both of whom have found the grade tough going of late. Kilmallock’s opening round win over Croom not enough to preserve their status.  
 
At Premier Junior, the newly framed 12-team grade, has Feenagh Kilmeedy and Kilteely Dromkeen into the last four. The men from the west made it five from five as they hunt another county final appearance after losing out in a penalty shootout last season.  
 
Dromcollogher Broadford will meet St. Patrick’s who had a last gasp point to eliminate Crecora Manister. Caherline knocked-out Monagea and booked themselves a meeting with Knockaderry, who hunt an immediate return back to Intermediate.  
 
The relegation play-off will be a meeting of AK Desmonds and Old Christians, two sides who’ve yet to taste success this season.  
 
In Junior A, Castletown Ballyagran have shaded Group 1 by a narrow margin and are joined by Group 2 winners Monaleen, who had already taken care of business by the time they lost to Claughaun. That win for the city club means they reach the last six, and will face Patrickswell. Rathkeale did enough to get through ahead of Garryspillane, with a west derby with Templeglantine their reward.  
 
Ballybricken Bohermore finished 5^th in Group 1 with two wins, a draw and two defeats. Ahane finished similarly in the corresponding group, their final round win over Templeglantine saving them from the relegation berth.  
 
Bruff and Blackrock will look to beat the drop to Junior B when they meet.  
 
At Junior B, the only hurling championship which still contains a divisional element, there are plenty who are aiming for glory. Two sides from each division will progress to the County stage. Monaleen won this competition last November. 
 
In the City, Ballybrown and Kildimo lead the way, with Na Piarsaigh still in the shake-up for a final spot. A stop-start competition will see the top two into the final. Mungret St. Paul’s and Crecora Manister are already out ahead of their final round games.  
 
The South sees Staker Wallace into the final against Camogue Rovers. Late drama, including three goals, helped Rovers into the final, with Bruree losing out. Staker Wallace powered beyond Bruff, by 17 points.  
 
The West has Adare and Granagh Ballingarry in the semi-finals with Feenagh Kilmeedy and Croagh Kilfinny set to join them after their respective quarter-final wins over Newcastle West and Knockaderry last weekend.  
 
South Liberties and Ahane will contest the East decider, with the Souths eliminating Doon, by five points on Sunday. Ahane got over neighbours Murroe Boher, by four points last week.  
 
Meanwhile Monaleen will contest the Junior ‘C’ decider, after edging out Doon. Their opposition will be either Hospital Herbertstown’s second string or their third team of Kildimo Pallaskenry.