Top four remains unchanged but Ballybrown and Mungret St Pauls make their move | SHC Power Rankings #4

The form of the likes of Shane O’Brien and Oisin O’Reilly will be very encouraging for Fintan O’Connor’s men who face the first acid test this Thursday.

Round three of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship is in the books with Kilmallock, Ballybrown and Mungret St Pauls maintaining their unbeaten starts to the year.

The Balbec have three wins thus far in group one while the City neighbours have put wins either side of a draw in the other.

As the fourth round throws in this Wednesday, we look at the fallers and risers in our power rankings.

Round Three Rankings

1. Kilmallock (=)
2. Patrickswell (=)
3. Na Piarsaigh (=)
4. Doon (+1)
5. Ahane (-1)
6. Ballybrown (=)
7. Adare (+1)
8. Kildimo Pallaskenry (-1)
9. Mungret St Pauls (=)
10. Monaleen (+1)
11. Garryspillane (+1)
12. South Liberties (-2)

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12. South Liberties (=)

Another heavy defeat for Liberties whose season has yielded little in terms of positivity. They take on an Adare side who will be smarting from a round three defeat and know their season is on the line.

They will be hopeful that the team next up fall once more to set up a final day showdown.

11. Garryspillane (=)

After getting off the mark against Mungret St Pauls in round two, Garryspillane couldn’t build on the result and were comfortably beaten by Monaleen. Face Ballybrown this time around and another defeat would signal a winner takes all battle with South Liberties in the final round.

10. Adare (-3)

The big fallers of the round are Adare whose loss to Mungret St Pauls could be detrimental to their chances of escaping from group two. After drawing with Ballybrown, they couldn’t back up the performance and could miss out on head to head as a result with the City side holding the aces there.

Likely to respond with a win this time around but will need favours elsewhere to finish in the top two.

9. Monaleen (+1)

Another win for the All-Ireland champions who have found their rhythm in the top tier after a difficult start against Ballybrown. Have been very comfortable in their recent pair of wins and will hold little fear in a clash with Mungret St Pauls that could see them put one foot in the quarter-finals.

Defeat would end their season but Eoin Brislane’s men are riding a crest of a wave coming in to the clash.

8. Kildimo Pallaskenry (=)

Performed admirably against Kilmallock last Thursday but time seems to be running out in their bid for a quarter final and in their safety battle. Need at least three points from their two remaining games to avoid relegation.

Doon’s form will provide them with a boost but still the underdogs nonetheless.

7. Mungret St Pauls (+2)

A momentous win for the 2021 Premier Intermediate champions as they saw off Adare in the first championship meeting of the sides this century. Twice shipped goals but responded well and are in the driving seat, alongside Ballybrown, for a top two finish.

A win over Monaleen would seal their quarter-final berth with a game to spare.

6. Ahane (-1)

The East men will rue a missed chance to stake their knockout claim as they fell to a narrow defeat against Patrickswell last time out. Tom Morrissey was in imperious form but had little help in the scoring department and they will need to rectify that against Na Piarsaigh this time around.

Still, Ahane will know that one win from the final pair of outings will be enough and after a string of impressive displays, you couldn’t bet against them upsetting the odds once.

5. Ballybrown (+1)

Back on track after the round three win, Ballybrown are motoring well in the championship, netting another five goals that takes their scoring difference to +26. Should have too much for Garryspillane which would all but seal their knockout berth.

Even a draw would keep promotion in their own hands leading into the final round clash with Mungret St Pauls.

4. Doon (=)

Their defeat to Na Piarsaigh will have them sweating on a quarter-final berth. After the ecstasy of beating Patrickswell, Doon will now be looking over their shoulder and know Ahane can pass them out in the final round regardless of this weekend’s games.

Everyone knows how they responded to the Kilmallock defeat, they will need to do the same against Kildimo Pallaskenry where a defeat would not only put their knockout hopes in jeopardy but plunge them into a relegation battle.

3. Na Piarsaigh (=)

It was a dominant win for Na Piarsaigh as they put their game with Doon to bed inside the first half hour. David Dempsey returned from the start and was unplayable in a side that saw Adrian Breen chip in with 2-3 and Peter Casey with 0-5.

All done without the services of William O’Donogue, last year’s champions look to be hitting their groove.

2. Patrickswell (=)

Showed glimpses against Ahane as to why they are one of the favourites to win the Daly Cup with Aaron Gillane’s goal out of the very top drawer.

O'Brien➡️Lynch➡️Gillane🔥

What a goal from @patrickswellgaa.@patrickswellgaa 2-08 : 0-07 @AhaneGAAClub@Bonslimerick | @LimerickCLG

📺Stream Pass👇https://t.co/Nk3PaEStQk pic.twitter.com/tAG6gF0Pa8

— StreamSport.ie (@StreamsportI) August 31, 2023

However, their inability to kill of the game when holding a seven-point lead will be worrying for Eamonn Kelly and co. They did well to see off Ahane following a comeback but this Thursday’s test will tell a lot for their title credentials.

1. Kilmallock (=)

Three from three for the Balbec and they already have one foot in the semi-finals. The only caveat is the fact that they still have Patrickswell and Na Piarsaigh to play. If they maintain the spot through the remainder of the group stages, it will be hard to see them stopped.

The form of the likes of Shane O’Brien and Oisin O’Reilly will also be very encouraging for Fintan O’Connor’s men who face the first acid test this Thursday.

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