THE QUARTER finalists in the Hyundai Limerick Motor Centre sponsored Senior Hurling Championship are now known.
Champions Kilmallock will face Knockainey in the last eight. Tony Considine’s 2012 winners defeated Effin last Thursday night to secure their safe passage to the knockout stages. Their opponents Knockainey defeated Adare in Group 3 to secure their spot at the expense of Murroe/ Boher.
The second quarter final will see Doon taking on South Liberties. Few would have seen this pairing making the last eight at the start of the championship, however both sides have been more than good value for their places. Doon topped a group which included Na Piarsaigh and Patrickswell, while South Liberties win over Garryspillane in round three only cemented their status as a strong senior set up.
The winners of group 3, Adare, will face Ballybrown. The west based side were defeated last time out by Knockainey, which should refocus the much fancied team. Ballybrown, who qualified behind champions Kilmallock, will fancy their chances of an upset when the two sides meet.
The final pairing of the last eight is a repeat of the 2011 county final. Ahane, who demolished Croom 7-19 to 0-11 in round three, will face Na Piarsaigh. The city side dispatched Patrickswell to set up a glamour tie with the green and gold men from the East.
Due to the restructuring of the hurling championship next season, the last eight teams in the championship will now playoff to see what four will be relegated to Intermediate status. With the senior hurling championship becoming two groups of six from next season onwards, (the same format as the current football championship) there are some top quality hurling sides on the brink.
The four relegation ties will be just as exciting and maybe even more nervous affairs than the quarter finals.
Murroe/ Boher must face Hospital/ Herbertstown in the first tie. This should be a cracking game, with Hospital/Herbertstown fully aware that their first win of the season is needed to survive.
Bruree will fave Effin also. Effin finished second from bottom of group four while Bruree struggled in a group where the four teams above them all finished on four points.
Garryspillane and Granagh/Ballingarry is the tie of the relegation playoff round. Both sides would have been favoured as quarter finalists, but now one of these two famous teams will face the dreaded drop.
The final game in the relegation series sees Patrickswell taking on Croom. If Croom’s last defeat is anything to go by, this will be an easy one to predict. Time is a great healer though and with these fixtures not set to be played until September at the earliest, all form, for all teams, might just be no guide whatsoever.
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