Injury Time . . . with Jerome O'Connell

THE sunshine brought record crowds out to watch round one of the Limerick’s Live 95FM sponsored county senior hurling championship.
County Board officials have confirmed that attendance figures were up on the first round of last season.
The overall figure was of course greatly boosted by the large crowd that attended the Thursday fixture between Patrickswell and Kilmallock. The jury is still out as to whether it was the fixing of the game for a Thursday night, the attractive clash of old rivals or the sunshine that brought the crowds to Bruff.
Aside from that game in Bruff, elsewhere crowds appeared along usual lines.
At intermediate level a number of notable fixtures, including Monagea’s debut at the level against west rivals Knockaderry, brought out large numbers.
In the opening round of games in the SHC, the big winners were Patrickswell.
Gary Kirby has regrouped his charges with some subtle positional changes. Their win over Kilmallock was testament to an impressive hard working team ethic.
One would assume that hunger and fitness are two of the basic elements of any championship campaign but this is not always the case - these were two key areas, where their was much to admire about Patrickswell.
Doon were another side to make an impressive winning start when overcoming Garryspillane, while Emmets lived up to much pre-championship hype with a stylish win over Bruff.
The next round of games is pencilled in for the weekend of June 19/20/21.
It appears that the County Board could be willing to experiment further with Thursday night for championship games.
Much attention will focus on the ‘losers section’ where it will be last chance saloon for eight teams.
The tie of the round is the meeting of south rivals, Kilmallock and Garryspillane. These neighbours never fail to deliver a high octane encounter and with so much at stake, one can expect a most entertaining hours hurling.
All the pressure will be on Kilmallock and this game could be the making of a team that is yet to fire on all cylinders.
The Bouncers’ unit remains pretty much dominated by their 2005 winning side. The crucial changes are the retirements of Frankie Carroll (now manager) and John Kiely and this year’s absence of Micheal O’Donnell (cruciate ligament) and Maurice O’Brien (Dublin). It appears the replacements are not available to the Knocklong side, but still Kilmallock will bring the best from ‘Garry’.
Another intriguing encounter will be the meeting of Granagh-Ballingarry and Knockainey.
Both have the potential to be quarter-finalists and will see this game as a launch pad.
Ditto for Bruff and Tournafulla, but these sides will also be mindful that a win will rid their respective clubs of any relegation worries.
The final game in the ‘losers section’ will see Murroe-Boher play the losing side from the Ahane and Bruree replay. This replay wont take place until the weekend of June 19/20/21 and the extra game could yet be a blessing in disguise.
In round two proper, champions Adare await the winners of the Ahane v Bruree replay, in what could yet be a repeat of last year’s county final.
Patrickswell will play neighbours Croom in what will be a rare championship meeting of these old rivals.
Emmets will play Claughaun, but as the intermediate championship progresses and the junior championships swing into action, things are going to get complicated for the divisional side and getting matters organised off the field of play will be key.
Emmets reached the county senior final in 1963, when they lost 3-6 to 3-1 to Feenagh-Kilmeedy, and already they are dreaming of a return to the heyday of the 60’s.
In the fourth game, Doon will be anxious to defeat Na Piarsaigh and thus have a chance to make amends for last year’s quarter-final collapse.