Limerick SFC Semi Final Previews

After the drama of last weekends Senior Football Championship Quarter Finals, the Semi Finals of the competition take place this weekend. On Friday night, reigning county champions Adare face Monaleen under lights in Mick Neville Park. The following evening, Newcastle West take on Ballylanders in the same venue.

Adare v Monaleen

Friday October 6 in Mick Neville Park @8pm

These sides meet for the second time in the competition after Adare’s impressive twelve-point victory over the 2016 county champions in round three of the group stage. That was one of five successive wins for Adare in Group 1 as they sealed a place in the semi final with minimal of fuss. After taking the longer route to the title last year, it will be interesting to see how Adare will have adapted to the extended layout with no quarter final to worry about. As for Monaleen, they entered round five of the group stage needing Adare to do them a favour in beating St Senans, to which they duly obliged. Now they will be looking to overturn the reigning county kingpins, and after their performance against St Kieran’s in Kilmallock last week, there is nothing to suggest they cannot do the same this Friday night in Rathkeale. With the kikes of Brian O’Donovan and Ger Collins back for the city side, they will pose the champions plenty of problems. This game could go either way with Adare yet to reach top gear despite their impressive 100\% record. Monaleen have enough to overturn the champions but expect the men from the west to secure a third consecutive county final berth.

Adare by the bare minimum.

Ballylanders v Newcastle West

Saturday October 7 in Mick Neville Park @6pm

After their thrilling victory over Ballysteen in Kilmallock last Saturday, Ballylanders face group 2 table toppers Newcastle West. The quarter final victory made it four successive wins for Landers and they will come into the game with confidence after racking up an impressive 2-16 in the win. They know that their defence will have to hold out better against this Newcastle side after conceding three late goals against Ballysteen and needing a late Jimmy Barry Murphy goal to secure passage. They will be without the services of Danny Frewen after the forward was given a straight red for a strike on William O’Meara. As for Newcastle, they will be looking to make it six wins from six in this year’s championship. Rarely have the 2015 County Champions looked unsettled thus far in the championship and will enter the game as strong favourites. They will be desperate to reach the final once again and go one step further than last year when a late Adare goal sealed the county for the red and black. Ballylanders will provide stiff opposition but Newcastle should have too much quality and book their place in the final for the fifth time this decade.

Newcastle to ease through to the final.