A CITY derby between newly promoted Ballybrown and title favourites Na Piarsaigh at Claughaun on Friday is the pick of the action in round two of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championhsip.
At the weekend, Ballybrown skipped past Ahane, 5-18 to 1-23.
Such a goal haul for the winners was remarkable given the side failed to raise a single green flag across three of the opening round fixtures last year. With a keen eye for goals are individuals such as Barry Adams, Bryan Griffin, and captain Aidan O’Connor, top scorer in C’ship 2024 with an awesome 3-60.
Na Piarsaigh drew with holders Doon, 2-16 to 1-19, in round one, and so too are goal hungry with the likes of Kevin Downes, Keith Dempsey, Adrian Breen, and Dylan Lynch.
The tie was tinged with sadness following the passing of Brigid O’Neill, mother of Na Piarsaiagh manager Shane.
Absent a few days back for the eight-time winners were two influential sets of brothers, namely Mike and Peter Casey and Jerome and Adrian Boylan.
It’s unclear as to their immediate availability.
Either way, Na Piarsaigh are still fancied for a marginal first win tomorrow night.
Donnacha O’Callaghan will referee.
Elsewhere in the top flight, Doon are tipped to account for Patrickswell in Kilmallock on Thursday night (referee: Michael Sexton) and Kilmallock can beat Ahane in Doon on Friday (referee: Eamonn Stapleton).
In Group Two, the first ever meeting of Newcastle West and Kildimo Pallaskenry (KP) is sure to draw the biggest crowd of the weekend to Rathkeale’s Seán Finn Park on Friday (referee: Johnny Murphy), while Dromin Athlacca and Monaleen takes place simultaneously in Fedamore (referee: Liam Berkery).
Predicted are victories for KP and Monaleen.
All fixtures throw-in at 7pm.
Adare and Mungret St. Paul’s met in Ballybrown last night (Wednesday), with the latter tipped to have collected the points on offer.
After this weekend, there is a fortnight’s break to the next round of fixtures.
In the Munster Championship, the Limerick winners have been favoured with home advantage in the opening round (November 2) against the Waterford champions, and the victors here will then host the Cork representatives at the semi-final stage.
