PREVIEW | St Kierans and Monaleen clash for place in SFC last four

Both Limerick Senior Football Championship quarter-finals throw-in this Saturday.

St. Kieran’s and Monaleen will do battle in Bruff in one half of the Limerick SFC quarter-finals place this Saturday at 4pm.

A place in the Limerick SFC semi-final against either Adare or Newcastle West awaits the victor with those clashes taking place on the weekend of October 15/16.

Monaleen managed a third placed finished in a tough group one this year, ending the round robin stages on six points with the three wins and two losses.

The City side fell to both Fr Caseys and NCW, who were involved in a straight shootout for the automatic semi-final place in the final round. Nonetheless, a convincing final day win against Claughaun ensured Monaleen of a quarter-final place against West opposition.

St Kierans notched a second place finish in group two, with last year’s finalists and second favourites Adare being the only side to better them in the table. They were also the only side to beat St Kierans, with their final day clash determining who would go straight to the semi-final.

A fourth round draw against Ballysteen was the side’s only other slip up this season but that was enough to guarantee a knockout berth heading into the concluding game.

St Kierans have have had to contend with relegation play-offs in consecutive years now and will be relieved to have earned a spot in the knockout stages for the first time since 2019. On that day they were beaten by Oola with their previous County Final appearance coming seventeen years ago.

Monaleen, on the other hand, were knocked out in the final four last season when they were beaten by eventual champions Newcastle West. Their last final came in 2016, when they pipped Dromcollogher Broadford to the title but haven’t made the final two since.

They did reach the last four at Kierans’ expense in 2018 as a fancied West side were upset in a 3-13 to 2-9 defeat. Monaleen were defeated by eventual champions Adare by a solitary point in the semi-finals.

Monaleen have been the more successful side in recent meetings, winning each clash since 2010, with a number by a considerable margin.

Recent Meetings

• 2020 – Monaleen 0-11 : 0-6 St. Kieran’s
• 2018 QF – St. Kieran’s 2-09 : 3-13 Monaleen
• 2013 – Monaleen 1-14 : 1-04 St. Kieran’s
• 2010 – Monaleen 4-09 : 0-2 St. Kieran’s

The City side have also been more prominent in the knockout stages compared to their counterparts with 2019 being the only year in the last eight that the side have not made it out of the group stages in the SFC.

The sides did meet in a SFC Final, St. Kierans last appearance in the decider in 2005 where they were unsuccessful with Monaleen securing a 0-13 to 2-05 victory.

Yet, previous encounter will prove irrelevant once the ball is thrown in at Bruff where an illusive spot in the last four awaits the winner.

St. Kieran’s v Monaleen in the Limerick Senior Football Championship quarter-final throws in this Saturday in Bruff at 4pm