BOTH semi-finals of the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship are listed for this Sunday.
Holders Doon run up against Ballybrown at Kilmallock’s Fitzgerald Park (4pm, referee: Johnny Murphy) while earlier Na Piarsaigh and Kilmallock meet in Bruff (1.45pm, referee: John O’Halloran). Â
In the group stages, Ballybrown all but beat Doon only for a late Darragh O’Donovan point to earn the holders an unlikely win.
The other weekend, Kevin Lally’s side struggled to account for Adare and will need to improve to cause an upset in a few days’ time. It will certainly need to rediscover earlier goal-scoring potential with Barry Adams, Ross Kenny and Brian Griffin, coupled with the continued excellent returns of Aidan O’Connor.
Derek McGrath’s Doon have plenty of scoring stars such as Donal Coughlan, O’Donovan, Pat Ryan, and Kevin Maher.
Verdict: Doon.
Eight-time winners Na Piarsaigh are strong favourites to account for Kilmallock, but James Hickey’s side are a useful outfit with key performers such as Shane O’Brien, Robbie Egan, Mark O’Loughlin, and OisÃn O’Reilly.
Shane O’Neill’s fine team are tipping along nicely, with many like Mike Casey, Kevin Downes, William O’Donoghue and Adrian Breen in fine fettle.
A few weeks back, Na Piarsaigh won the group tie between the pair comfortably.
Verdict: Na Piarsaigh.
The final is confirmed for the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday October 19 (3.30pm).
Limerick’s winners will entertain 12-in-a-row Waterford champions Ballygunner in the
opening round of the Munster Championship at the start of next month.
It will be preceded by the Premier Intermediate Hurling decider, the pairing for which will
be known after this Saturday’s semi-finals: Croagh Kilfinny v Garryspillane in Carroll Park,
Ballyagran (2pm) and Blackrock v Effin in Kilmallock (4pm).
The Bouncers of Garryspillane, beaten by Newcastle West in last year’s final, remain the
fancied team for outright success and with it promotion to the senior ranks for 2026.