Three teams remain unbeaten in Limerick SFC

An eventul Round 4 saw three Adare, Newcastle West and Oola  book their place in the knockout stages of the Irish Wire Products Limerick Senior Football Championship.

In Group 1, Adare earned a fourth consecutive win. This time a 2-20 to 0-10 victory over St Senan’s saw them guarantee top spot with a game to play.

Two Robbie Bourke goals in the opening half saw Adare ease to victory. As their quest for three in a row gathers momentum, they face Ballylanders in their final group game.

They are safe in the knowledge that their last four spot is assured. The champions of the last two years show no sign that they are ready to give up their title just yet.

Ballylanders were victors over Monaleen in Round 4 with a 1-8 to 0-10 win to give them a slim chance at progression to the last six. Brian O’Connell’s second half goal proved vital for last year’s beaten finalists.

Elsewhere in the group, Fr Casey’s took a huge step towards the knockout stages with a 0-10 to 0-9 win over Ballysteen.

With both sides on four points heading into the game, Casey’s win means there will need to be a huge swing of results to go against them to prevent them from reaching the quarter finals as they have a +22-scoring difference over Ballylanders who are on four points.

Casey’s play Monaleen in their final group game with the city side out of the championship. If Ballylanders lose, then Casey’s will finish second, regardless of results elsewhere as they have a head-to-head advantage on Ballysteen.

Ballysteen play St Senan’s in their final game where a win will see them finish in the top three. For Senan’s, that game is a dead rubber as they are guaranteed to play in the relegation final against the bottom side in Group 2.

In Group 2, Oola and Newcastle West are assured of their places in the knockout stages with both four-from-four thus far in the competition. Oola were 3-8 to 0-15 winners over St Kieran’s in their Round 4 game, while Newcastle overcame Na Piarsaigh 3-8 to 0-7.

Oola and Newcastle West meet in the final group game, with the winners advancing straight to the semi-finals while the other will play the side that finishes third in Group 1.

St Kieran’s and Galbally will also meet in a winner takes all clash in Round 4. Galbally earned their first win of the competition when they beat Drom-Broadford in Round 3.

But another win against Kieran’s will be enough to seal third spot in the group as they will draw level with the West side and hold a superior head-to-head record. A win or draw for Kieran’s will assure them of their third place finish.

At the bottom of the table, Na Piarsaigh play Drom-Broadford with both in relegation danger. If Drom pick up their first win here then they will be safe, while Na Piarsaigh battle St Senan’s in their final group game.

For Na Piarsaigh, a point will do as they are two points ahead of Drom in the table as things stand. Na Piarsaigh were in the relegation final last year when they defeated St Patricks.

The final group games of the SFC take place on Saturday, August 24^th (Group 1) and Sunday, August 25^th (Group 2).