Talking Points | Champions hit their stride, Caseys and Adare keep up & three-way tie in group two | Limerick SFC Round Three

Four teams have booked their place in the knockout stages with a game to spare in the Limerick SFC.

Plenty was decided in the latest round of fixtures in the Limerick Senior Football Championship with five teams confirmed for a knockout game.

Newcastle West and Fr Caseys will meet in group one with the winner to progress to the semi-finals with the loser into the quarters. The same can be said for Adare and Fr Caseys in group two. They are the only four teams qualified thus far.

At the other end, Ballylanders are guaranteed to contest the relegation final. Oola or Galbally will join them there depending on the outcome in their game in September.

That leaves Monaleen, Claughaun, Galtee Gaels, Ballysteen and Kildimo Pallaskenry fighting for the final pair of quarter-final spots.

With a four week break to the final round, we look at some of the talking points to emerge from the latest set of fixtures.

Newcastle West send out another statement of intent

The first set of fixtures saw Fr Caseys race out of the blocks with comfortable wins over Oola and Claughaun. The Abbeyfeale men put up a combined 3-32 and added to that with fifteen points in the third round win over Monaleen.

But it has been Newcastle West that have been the standout team of the past two weekends as they made it four wins on the trot, highlighting why they are favourites to retain their title. Firstly, they disposed of Galbally with relative ease, while they had thirteen points to spare against Claughaun at the weekend in a repeat of last year’s quarter final.

This was also achieved without intercounty men, Cian Sheehan and Diarmuid Kelly, who are expected to be back for the latter rounds of the championship. Newcastle West’s strength in depth is the envy of the rest of the county but repeating has always been their achilles heel. Never before have they gone back to back but this year they seem intent on doing so.

Face Caseys in the final round with top spot on the line.

Fr Caseys and Adare get the job done

Newcastle West are one of three teams on 100% records after four rounds but while the Magpies were very impressive in their most recent win, Fr Caseys and Adare were made to work for their latest victory. In group one, Caseys saw off winless Galbaly by virtue of a 0-12 to 0-8 win in Mick Neville Park. But after brushing aside Oola, Claughaun and Monaleen, the Abbeyfeale couldn’t shrug off Galbally as easily.

With only one point in it at the break, Galbally gave as good as they got with their lack of discipline proving costly against an out of sorts Caseys. Nonetheless, it was another win for the men in blue and will delight management as they showed their ability to get the job done when not at their best,

Similarly, Adare were one point winners over Ballylanders that sealed their place in the knockout stages. But the 1-7 to 0-9 win was against a side without a win and assured off a relegation final berth with a game to play. Outside of their nine point win over Galtee Gaels in round one, Adare have won each of their three other games by a combined score of seven points. Still, they still have a potential top spot in their own hands leading St Kierans by a point.

Three fight for one spot in group two

Heading into the final round of games, there is nothing to separate Kildimo Pallaskenry, Galtee Gaels and Ballysteen with each deadlocked on three points from four games. Each have been beaten by Adare while the former pair were also defeated by St Kierans. Ballysteen rescued a draw against their West neighbours last time out but crucially Galtee Gaels hold the head to head over them after their round two win.

Ballysteen take on KP in the last round with the City side having the best score record. They drew with Galtee Gaels last time out which means a win over Ballysteen will be enough unless Galtee overcome a 19-point differential.

At this stage, it’s anyone’s game.