PIHC Preview | All eight sides in action as round three set to take place in heatwave this weekend

The PIHC will be the only Limerick hurling championship taking place this weekend.

As the football championship returns next weekend, the SHC, IHC and JAHC will be on hold until the 1st of September but there will still be action in the PIHC this weekend.

Last weekend, no side were able to build on their fortunes from round one with three sides level at the top of the table with three points, showing the level to which all sides are capable of playing at.

Round two results saw Bruff remain top on point difference after a draw against Knockainey, with Cappamore yet to get any points on the board and sitting rock-bottom.

Round three will provide a different challenge for the players however, with temperatures set to hit up to 29 degrees Celsius. It won’t be an easy task for sides to play in these conditions and may have a part to play in some results.

The third round fixtures are as follows:

Dromin-Athlacca v Bruff

Thursday 11th August 6:45pm in Kilmallock

Dromin-Athlacca were beaten by six points in the last round by Effin, leaving them on two points from their opening round win. Meanwhile, Bruff are sitting of top of the pile going into the third round although a draw was the best they could get out of Knockainey last weekend.

This fixture will provide an interesting battle considering the results between the two sides. In the opening round Dromin-Athlacca got the better of Knockainey while Bruff made it past Effin with an eleven point deficit. The following round saw Dromin-Athlacca fall to defeat against Effin while Bruff had to settle for a draw with Knockainey, leaving Thursday’s game anyone’s to win.

The game will be streamed live and can be purchased below.

Purchase Bruff v Dromin Athlacca

Knockainey v Effin

Thursday 11th August 6:45pm in Hospital

Effin got their first points on the board with a 1-17 to 0-14 victory over Dromin-Athlacca. It was their first win at Premier Intermediate since 2016 thanks to an inspired second half. Knockainey secured their first point against Bruff last week as they sit second bottom of the table.

It will be an intriguing battle between the two sides, with Knockainey having a higher point average ahead of the game despite remaining winless. Effin will be looking to cement their place in the PIHC and winning on Thursday would do them no harm in that regard ahead of the break.

Newcastle West v Monaleen

Friday 12th August 6:45pm in Mick Neville Park

Arguably the game of the weekend, unbeaten Newcastle West will look to build on their recent performances against a wounded Monaleen side. The Magpies got their first win of the campaign against 2021 finalists Cappamore while Monaleen were sentenced to defeat by Glenroe with the score being 2-21 to 1-18.

After being relegated from the SHC last year, Dermot Gleeson’s men will want to bounce back as soon as possible and last week’s result was a major blow to their chances. Meanwhile Jimmy Lee’s Newcastle West have looked a solid outfit for the season and Friday’s fixture will be an interesting battle between the two.

Cappamore v Glenroe

Saturday 13th August 6:45pm in Hospital

The PIHC will be on pause once Cappamore and Glenroe go head to head in the last fixture of the weekend. Cappamore have looked a shadow of their 2021 self, with two losses from two with a -9 point difference. The side will be facing a relegation battle unless they begin to pick up form. They dominated the opening exchanges against Newcastle West but fell apart in the second half.

Glenroe, on the other hand, are the third unbeaten side in the championship, with an impressive six-point victory over Monaleen in the last round leaving them on three points. On paper, it would look like a Glenroe victory as the obvious choice based on recent results but Cappamore will have a point to prove in the game.