Senior Hurling Championship makes welcome return

By Tom Clancy

There are six games down for decision in the opening round of the Bon Secours Limerick Senior Hurling Championship this weekend, with Na Piarsaigh once again the front runners in the hunt for the Daly Cup.

The Caherdavin side claimed the silverware last October, when holding off Patrickswell in an arm-wrestle of a final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Those two sides, and Kilmallock have won all the titles since 2009, when Adare completed a three-in-a-row. That trio, as well as Doon, have contested each of the last seven finals in various iterations with Ballybrown the last side outside of that quartet to reach the showpiece final.

Na Piarsaigh are aiming for their first ever three-peat with the aforementioned Adare team the last Limerick club to achieve that, before that it was Patrickswell in 1997.

The club championships have presented openings for players to move into the Limerick panel in recent seasons. Donal Coughlan (Doon), David Fitzgerald (Kildimo Pallaskenry) and Emmet McEvoy (Na Piarsaigh) were three who got a brief look in during the early part of this year and before that Donnacha Ó Dálaigh and Darren O’Connell and got their call-up primarily off the back of their club exploits.

Shane O’Neill is still at the helm with Na Piarsaigh and will look to current county stars William O’Donoghue, Milke Casey and Conor Boylan, while the experience of Shane Dowling, David Dempsey and Ronan Lynch. Peter Casey remains sidelined following his horrific injury sustained in the green of Limerick in April. JJ Carey, Wayne Kearns and Vince Harrington cemented places in the team last season while John Fitzgerald and James Finn will be looking for more game time having been used from the bench in the latter stages of the campaign.

Their opponents this weekend are once again Patrickswell. These sides met in the opening round with the record holders, ‘the Well’ claiming a two-point victory. Ciaran Carey is back in charge and will look to Cian Lynch, Aaron Gillane and Diarmaid Byrnes. Goalkeeper Jason Gillane will be their launchpad, while Jack Kelleher and Kevin O’Brien’s experience will be key as they take aim at a 21^st title. They will have been left frustrated by their final showing last year with Jason Gillane’s heroics keeping the game tight but they never landed a blow on the light blues. They’ve reached the last four, at a minimum in the nine of the last ten seasons.

Elsewhere in Group One, or Senior A as it has become known, newcomers Mungret St. Paul’s face a vital clash with Ahane. A hugely successful 2023 in both hurling and football is now in the rearview mirror and Brian Begley will be aware of the step up required to challenge the top table in Limerick. Liam Lynch, Barry and Rory Duff will be vital once more, while Patrick Begley and Niall Mulcahy are important once more for those in red and white. The production line at the sprawling sporting campus in Mungret shows no signs of relenting – with last December’s U21 title adding further fuel to an already raging fire. Last season ended with a narrow defeat to Doon in the quarter-final, and plenty will have been gained from that result.

Ahane, who claimed the bulk of their titles during the Mick Mackey era, have been steady if unspectacular in recent seasons. The Morrissey brother, Tom and Dan will once more by key, while the addition of former Clare football captain Gary Brennan could yet be a gamechanger for the East divisional club. They’ll also look to Ciaran Barry and Kevin Morrissey as they look to improve on a single victory in 2023. This is their fifth consecutive season in the top group with one victory, three draws and six loses their lot to date.

The other game in the top tier sees Kilmallock and Doon, both of last season’s beaten semi-finalists, with Doon now under the guidance of former Waterford manager, Derek McGrath. The club have yet to reach the holy grail and many believe 2024 could be the year to do so. Fergie O’Loughlin steadied a ship last year that was short a number of talents due to injury. This time around, they’ll look to Barry Murphy, Pat Ryan and the fit again, Darragh O’Donovan. Donal Coughlan was one of the finds of the championship last season and if Josh Ryan lines out again, they will no doubt be in better health this time around. Only a penalty shootout prevented them from reaching the final last time out. The English’s (not brothers!), Richie and Adam, will provide a nice balance to their side with Richie missing out entirely in 2023, after a horrible cruciate injury – the second of his career.

Kilmallock will no doubt be in the shake-up with once more, with Peter Queally heading up their new-look management. Barry Hennessy captains the side, while Killian Hayes who lined out with Kerry this year, is one to watch. As ever, Shane O’Brien, Micháel Houlihan and Graeme Mulcahy will lead the attack. Robbie Hanley, Aaron Costello and Oisin O’Reilly will move again be vital as they hunt a first title since 2021, having also contested the 2022 final, losing out to Na Piarsaigh.  

In Group Two, there appears to be a very equal looking sextet of side vying for the two available spots in the knock-out phase. There is uncertainty with some sides, with no side really holding any noticeable momentum from 2023.

Throwing-in this group on Thursday evening will be Dromin-Athlacca and South Liberties. The Souths’ form truly fell off a cliff last season, after a semi-final appearance in 2022. They won just once, a goal-laden final day success over Garryspillane, to relegate the Bouncers. Albert McSweeney’s task is to rise the famous yellow and gold this season and he’s assisted by Anthony Nash who is team coach. The former Cork stopper may also line up between the sticks, and fit again Barry Nash, his cousin will be vital to their chances. Tom Ryan and Ken Byrnes will provide the scoring threat with fresh blood sought after a very mixed couple of seasons.


For Dromin Athlacca, they’ll be hoping to kick-on from Premier Intermediate glory. A refreshed looking management sees Mark Moynihan in as coach, with Ger Kelleher and Pakie Herlihy among the selectors. David Breen was their match winner with a last-gasp fetch and point in the county final win over Blackrock while he’ll be ably assisted by seven-time Munster SHC winner, David Reidy. Key too, will be Cian and Daniel Scully, captain Peter Ryan and in defence, William Dore. Having been outside of the grade since 2008, there is little to no experience at this level and they’ll hope to be plucky underdogs. 2024 is surely about consolidation first and South Liberties first up may present an opening to claim some early points.

Kildimo Pallaskenry have lost the services of Barry O’Connell who has transferred to Toomevara as they look to bounce back after a winless Group One campaign 12 months ago. Natal O’Grady remains in charge with Declan Nash also prominent in the management setup. Once more they’ll look to Shaun Barry for scores, with Cathal Downes a big player when fit. Kyle Hayes’ form for Limerick will always rub-on to his club and he will have to be a galvanising force for this group. Overall, it’s a young squad so the experience, when fit, of Peter Nash and Tony McCarthy will be invaluable to their chances. Darren O’Connell is another man who could be pivotal but there is uncertainty about his availability in the opening rounds.


Facing Kildimo Pallaskenry will be Adare – their neighbours – in the opening round. A mixed back from the 2009 champions last year means they stay in the second tier. Indeed, a late goal concession in round 5 saw them miss out on a quarter-final spot on scoring difference. Declan Hannon, his brother Jody are old dogs for the long road while John Fitzgibbon and Willie Griffin are always key scoring threats for the N21 club. Mike Keane, a former Limerick Minor captain, will boost their hopes, a player blighted by injuries but now looking to help leas an Adare resurgence. Louis Mulqueen is the team manager while Shane Fitzgibbon and Mark Foley are also on the management ticket.


Finally, on Saturday evening, Ballybrown meet city rivals, Monaleen. The Clarina men are under the guidance of Christy Keyes, who has Waterford native Sean Prendergast in as coach. Limerick U20 boss, Evan Loftus, is a recent returnee to the backroom team, having managed his native club between 2016 and 2020. Retirements of Stevie O’Reilly, David Hartnett and Mark Sheehan reduce the volume of experience, while talented Josh Adams and Mikey Gavin have been struck by the cruciate curse. They’ll look to regular Limerick subs, Aidan O’Connor and Colin Coughlan. Towering James Coughlan, younger brother of Colin, is the youngest member of the side which will rely on the experience of Kenny Power, Leigh Doolan and Andrew Cliffe.

Monaleen will hope to build on an unspectacular 2023 Limerick SHC, having won the All-Ireland Intermediate crown at the start of the calendar year. Eoin Brislane continues with the men in red and white, while Trevor Galvin is coach. Ronan and Lorcan Lyons, Andrew Le Touche Cosgrave as well as Donnacha Ó Dálaigh will lead their charge. Joe Power will be their number one, having been a Limerick panellist in 2023 and the early part of this season. Those involved with the team will know they need to make a mark at senior, having failed to really do so prior to their relegation.

Meanwhile Round One of the Limerick Intermediate, Premier Junior and Junior A competitions takes place this weekend. Round Two of the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship takes place – with two of the four opening round games taking place.

All these sides face a sharp turnaround for round two, which takes place next weekend.

Round One Fixtures
Thursday, 1st August
Doon v Kilmallock, 7pm, TUS Gaelic Grounds (Group 1)
Dromin Athlacca v South Liberties, 7pm, Kilmallock (Group 2)

Friday, 2nd August
Na Piarsaigh v Patrickswell, 7pm, TUS Gaelic Grounds (Group 1)
Kildimo Pallaskenry v Adare, 7pm, Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale (Group 2)

Saturday, 3rd August
Mungret St. Paul’s v Ahane, 7pm, Childers Road (Claughaun GAA) (Group 1)
Monaleen v Ballybrown, 7pm, Fedamore (Group 2)