Limerick SFC Round 2 Preview

After a busy opening round that produced a number of surprising results, the second round of fixtures in the 2019 Limerick SFC take place this weekend.

We have a look ahead to each of the games below as the championship heads for a 16-week break after Sunday evening.

Group 1

Adare v Fr Caseys

Friday April 5 in Mick Neville Park @8pm

The opening game of the group sees the defending champions Adare face Fr Caseys in Rathkeale. Both sides made good starts to their campaigns with victories. Adare defeated Monaleen by five points while Caseys had eleven points to spare against St Senans. A second win here for either side will put them in a very good position heading into the break. Adare will come into the game as favourites and should have a enough to secure the points but will be made to work for it.

Monaleen v Ballysteen

Friday April 5 in Kilbreedy @8pm

These sides come into the game after very differing results in the openig round. Ballysteen blitzed Ballylanders with three first half goals as they would eventually go on to win by 15. Monaleen meanwhile were defeated by Adare with two late Evan O’Neill goals making the scoreline more respectful. However, the 2016 champions will be favourites after inflicting a heavy 5-11 to 1-6 defeat on Ballysteen when they last met in 2016.

Ballylanders v St Senans

Saturday April 6 in Bruff @5.30pm

These sides meet in a repeat of the opening round of last years championship where they played out a 0-11 apiece draw. Both come into the game off the back of heavy losses and can ill afford to head into the break with no points. Ballylanders, last years county finalists will be reeling after the manner of their loss to Ballysteen and will be fancied to put away Senans who are suffering with a number of injury losses.

Group 2

Dromcollogher Broadford v Oola

Friday April 5 in Kilbreedy at 6.30pm

Again a pairing between sides who had very different results in Round 1. Drom-Broadford were comfortably disposed of by Newcastle West while Oola’s five goal haul was more than a match for newly promoted Galbally. Oola, who may well have their Limerick hurling contingent back for this game have the firepower to cause Drom serious problems.

Newcastle West v St Kierans

Saturday April 6 in Knockaderry @6.30pm

The standout tie of the round between the heavyweights of group 2 will be streamed live by Limerick GAA TV this Saturday. Both were comfortable in their wins in the opening round and will have had their eyes set on this clash to lay down a marker. They met in the final round of the group stages last year to decide who would top the group with Newcastle running out winners on that occasion. Newcastle will be slightly favoured to repeat the trick but this should be a fascinating clash that may well end up a draw.

Galbally v Na Piarsaigh

Sunday April 7 in Bruff @6pm

The meeting of the dual senior sides is the final clash of the round. Both teams suffered defeat in the opening game with Na Piarsaigh’s meeting with St Kierans only played on Tuesday evening, Like Oola, they will be hoping to have their Limerick Senior Hurling contingent back with the likes of Peter Casey and David Dempsey restricted to the bench in the opening round. Galbally will have been disappointed to have conceded five goals against Oola and will look to rectify this against the Caherdavin. This tie which features last years Intermediate champions and the relegation play-off winners may well have an enormous bearing on each sides season.