Weekly Observer’s Matt O’Callaghan talks with Sporting Limerick about round 3 of the Limerick SFC.

With three of the five rounds of the Limerick SFC played, the picture of of the championship is beginning to clear up. As we head into a six week break to allow for the Qualifiers in the Senior Inter County championships, Monaleen are the only team to have won each of their opening three games.

As mentioned previously, Monaleen are the only team still with a 100% record after they overcame Na Piarsaigh 0-10 to 0-8 in a hard fought win in Claughan on Friday evening. Whilst Monaleen have one foot firmly in the knockout stages, Na Piarsaigh are looking like favourites to be in a promotion play-off as they are still without a win with three defeats. However, judging by their performance against the champions, they may yet pick up enough points to stay up.

Drom Broadford lie in second place in the group with 5 points. They were highly impressive against Adare on Thursday, dispatching the intermediate champions 1-18 to 3-5 in a clinical display. With a game against Monaleen to come, they will be hoping they can finish top- of the table and advance straight through to the semi finals. Adare find themselves on 3 points and know two wins from their remaining games will see them qualify for the knockout stage.

Fr Caseys beat Rathkeale courtesy of two Darren Keane goals, to leave them on three points with two games remaining. With Na Piarsaigh and Drom Broadford yet to come, Caseys know that qualification will be tough. Rathkeale on the other hand are in danger of relegation as they have only picked up a solitary point thus far. Two wins in their final games may be enough to secure a place in the knockout stages however.

In group 2, runaway leaders NCW were halted on Saturday evening against a resilient Ballysteen sides as they drew 1-7 to 2-4. The result still leaves Newcastle favourites to top the group with Oola and Kierans yet to come for the 2015 champions. Ballysteen got their first point of the year on Saturday and will look for two wins in their last two games to try sneak into the knockout spots. However, they still prop up the table behind Oola and Pats.

St Kierans beat St Pats on Friday night to move into second place in the group. They will know that their game against NCW could be for top spot in the group and they will be prepared for such. St Pats suffered in the absence of Gearoid Hegarty and are in slight danger of relegation as they remain on two points, level with Oola and a point ahead of Ballysteen.

Ballylanders put away Oola 1-10 to 1-8 to move them into the knockout places on 4 points, level with St Kierans, only trailing on points differential. With Ballysteen and St Pats to come, they will be hoping to maintain their spot in the knockout stage. Oola meanwhile are struggling. Yet to pick up a point since their opening day win, Oola have a lot to do if they are to make it to the quarter finals.

You can hear Matt O’Callaghan’s full review with Sporting Limerick on the link below.