THE race for the Limerick Senior Football Championship is down to four teams.
Four will become two this weekend with both Limerick SFC semi-finals down for decision on Sunday.
At 2pm in Kilmallock, defending champions Adare take on Galtee Gaels while Newcastle West meet Monaleen in Mick Neville Park at 4pm.
Each side topped their respective groups and have a 100% record so far this term.
At the other end of the scale, Na Piarsaigh and Galbally face off in the relegation final on Saturday week.
Ahead of the semi-finals, check out the power rankings.
12. Galbally
Few teams will be more disappointed in their 2021 season than Galbally, falling to three successive defeats since reaching the semi-finals of the competition last year. They were paired with Newcastle West and Fr Caseys in the group stages whcih is a tall order, but the manner of their defeat to the Abbeyfeale men when they only scored 1-2 would have been a cause for concern.
In the relegation semi-final they trailed from start to finish against Ballylanders which is a worry for the South side who are in jeopardy of returning to the Intermediate ranks they won in 2018.
Will need to recapture their 2020 form if they are to survive but have the ability to come out of this situation.
11. Na Piarsaigh
For the second time in four years, the Caherdavin side find themselves in the relegation final. Without their dual players, Na Piarsaigh have struggled in recent years, last reaching the knockout stages in 2016, when their hurlers were knocked out in the group stages of the SHC.
They pushed St Kierans all the way in the relegation semi-final, bringing the game to extra-time but falling short in the end.
However, they have become experts in survival and will fancy themselves in that regard once more. Were dominant over Galbally in their previous meeting in 2019, winning out 3-15 to 0-9 and will know a similar performance will prove enough this time around.
10. St Kierans
9. Ballylanders
with Newcastle West in Knockaderyy. CREDIT: Sport Action Photography
A year to forget for both sides but maintained their senior status which would have been the only objective after finding themselves in the relegation play-offs.
Ballylanders were the better performers in the semi-final, leading from pillar to post while St Kierans needed an extra twenty to overcome Na Piarsaigh.
Still, it wouldn’t be a shock to see either side make it to the last four at the right end of the championship next summer.
8. Oola
7. Claughaun
6. Ballysteen
5. Fr Caseys
The four teams that crashed out in the quarter-finals, none were fancied to make it through and each came up short in their respective ties. Oola will be disappointed with their campaign after reaching the final in 2019 while Fr Caseys showed that they can do against Galbally but failed to emulate that performance in the quarters yet again.
Ballysteen pushed Adare all the way in the quarter-finals after a below par group stage while Claughaun will have been delighted to reach the knockout stages just 12 months after earning promotion.
Room for improvement in each but the materials are there to trouble the top four next year.
4. Galtee Gaels
The most improved team in the championship in their sophmore year at the senior ranks. After a difficult introduction to life in the top tier in 2020, Galtee have built on their relegation final win with three successive victories over St Kierans, Ballysteen and Oola.
In Robbie Childs they have arguably the standout player in the 2021 championship with the marquee forward ably assisted by his brother Tommie, the McGrath’s, and Zac McCarthy to name a few.
They will meet Adare for the first time in the semi-final this weekend but will hold no fear against the reigning champions.
3. Monaleen
After falling at the quarter-final stage last year, Monaleen will have been keen on getting over Fr Caseys at the same stage a fortnight ago.
That brought their 2021 record to 3/3 after defeating Ballylanders and Claughaun in the group stages. The City side have a good blend of experience and youth sprinkled throughout the squad in the form of Ger Collins, Donal O’Sullivan, Brian Donovan and Mark O’Dwyer.
Could this be the year that Monaleen make good on their promising production line, reaching successive U21 Premier Finals in 2019 and 2018. However, both times they were undone by this weekend’s opponents. Yet, in their most recent meeting the July League final, Monaleen ended the Magpies bid for five in a row.
=1 Adare & Newcastle West
It may seem a cop out to rank these sides together but they have told the story of the Limerick football championship in recent years.
Newcastle West ended a long wait for a tile in 2015, but two years later were undone by Intermediate champions Adare who claimed their first ever Senior title. Adare retained their crown 12 months later but 2019 belonged to NCW after they dethroned Adare in a titanic semi-final before defeating Oola in the final.
Adare gained revenge last year in the quarter-finals, going on to capture a third title in four years. Yet, this year they were put to the pin of their collar by Ballysteen in the quarters while Newcastle West cruised past Clauaghaun.
The players at either sides disposal roll off the tongue with the Bourke’s, Connolly’s and Lyons’ leading the way for Adare while Newcastle can call upon the likes of Iain Corbett, Cian Sheehan, Sean Murphy and the Hurley’s.
And with both out of the hurling equation, there will be added desire to prevail once more in the football.
Monaleen and Galtee Gaels will certainly have their say but it looks like a repeat of the 2017 final is on the cards.
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