ONCE again, the Gaelic Grounds will be at the centre of lively action this weekend with the staging of both semi-finals of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship.
This afternoon (Saturday, 3pm), holders Na Piarsaigh re-enter the arena against Doon, while the following afternoon it’s Kilmallock against Patrickswell (3pm).
As it’s a ‘result on the day’ scenario, there is provision for extra-time and penalties in both fixtures.
Doon, who are the only one of the remaining quartet never have to annexed the title, are keenly aware of the mammoth task ahead.
- External Walls: Up to €8,000 Grant
- Attic: Up to €1,500 Grant
- Cavity Walls: Up to €1,700 Grant
- Internal Dry Lining: Up to €4,500 Grant
“After our little trimming against Kilmallock (3-22 to 0-12) in the first round, if you told me we’d be in a county semi-final I would have bitten your hand off. I don’t want to harp on about injuries and that, and lads coming back, but in fairness if we can produce our second-half performance from out there over 60 minutes, we will give bags of it to anyone,” said manager Fergie O’Loughlin.
He added: “I’m just very pleased for the lads. That was our objective at the start of the year, to get to a county semi-final.”
Reflecting on their quarter-final win over fellow parishioners Ballybrown, the ‘Well manager Eamon Kelly told the Irish Examiner: “We finished very strong, but we are leaving teams in it. Going forward, if you have the likes of Kilmallock, who we’re playing in the semi-final, we mightn’t survive.”
“We need everybody. It’s going to take 20 players if we’re going to get a result.”
In the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship, favourites Effin run up against Blackrock in Bruff this afternoon (Saturday, 2pm) to be followed (4pm) by the clash of Bruff and Dromin/Athlacca at Kilmallock’s Fitzgerald Park.
Both finals will be staged as an attractive double-header at headquarters on October 28.
Meanwhile, the semi-finals of the Intermediate Hurling Championship are Croagh/Kilfinny v Hospital/Herberstown and Granagh/Ballingarry v Murroe/Boher, both today in Ballyagran (1pm) and Fedamore (4pm), respectively.