PREVIEW: Premier Intermediate Hurling Final

This Sunday night in the Gaelic Grounds, City rivals Kildimo Pallaskenry and Mungret St Pauls will do battle in the 2020 Lyons of Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship final. It will be a repeat of their first round classic where Mungret edged their opponents by a solitary point in Clarina.

That first round encounter was an instant classic with Rory Duff’s late hour point enough to secure a 1-18 to 1-17 win over last years losing finalists.

A win over Bruree in their second round game was enough top seal to spot for Mungret while they rounded out the group with a draw against Cappamore.

That set up a showdown with Intermediate champions Glenroe in the last four. The city side came out of the blocks the quickest but Glenroe would find the back of the net first to take a three point lead into the break. A brilliant third quarter turned the game for Mungret who would eventually win out 0-22 to 1-18 to seal a place in the decider for the first time having earned promotion to the grade in 2016.

Kildimo Pallaskenry responded brilliantly to the early set back against Mungret as they powered past Bruree and Cappamore easily with an average winning margin of 14 points.

They continued in this form in their semi final win over Bruff where they completely outclassed the south side. An early goal from Paudi Hartigan had them 1-13 to 0-4 ahead at the break. Second half goals from intercounty pair Darren O’Connell and Kyle Hayes helped seal a 3-20 to 0-15 win and book a second consecutive final appearance.

The form of O’Connell and Hayes has been a real standout for KP with at least one of them scoring in each game with both finding the net against Bruff. They combined for 1-8 from play against Mungret in the first game with Mungret needing to curb their influence if they are to have a chance.

Outside those pair, Kildimo have class throughout the field with 2018 All Ireland winner Barry O’Connell brilliant at centre-back. They have Limerick underage talent in the form of Cathal Downes and Liam Griffin to name a few. At the opposite end of the field to his brother Kyle, Cian Hayes has nailed down the full back position and was part of the 2011 Munster U21 winning Limerick side. They have the added advantage of playing last years final and will feel aggrieved not to have snatched victory on either day against Blackrock. As such, they enter the game as favourites despite the early reversal against the same opponents.

Mungret have failed to hit to hit top gear in the competition thus far, but this could work in their favour come Sunday evening should things click in to place. Paul O’Brien has been the undoubted star of the side thus far with huge scoring contributions in each game in the group stages. However, when he was subdued against Glenroe, there was a greater spread of scoring from the Mungret men which they will hope to continue against KP.

Their backline was outstanding against Glenroe with each of their half back line of Conor Hellewell, Brian Barry and Liam Harrington getting on the scoresheet. In midfield, Rory Duff has been incredibly consistent and alongside Eoin O’Doherty, they hold a scoring threat from the middle of the park. The fitness of Pa Begley will be a concern as he made his first appearance of the year against Glenroe while captain Cian O’Brien sat out injured and is a doubt for the decider.

Regardless, form will be thrown out the window come Sunday evening with a cracking contest between the sides guaranteed. Expect nothing more than a puck of the ball to separate the sides.