Football stars return to action

FOLLOWING in the wake of their one-point defeat at the hands of Meath in Saturday’s All-Ireland football qualifier several Limerick inter-county football stars take to the field this weekend in the Limerick’s Live 95FM county senior football championship.
Last time out defending county champions Drom-Broadford drew with St. Senan’s and will hope to get their group one campaign back on track against Hospital-Herbertstown in Kilmallock on Saturday evening (6.45pm). Hospital-Herbertstown have already lost to Ballylanders and Monaleen with defeat here likely to rule Hospital out of contention for the knock-out stages - Drom-Broadford will be expected to win this encounter.
Also on Saturday (6.45pm) group two’s Pallasgreen face off against Ballysteen in Claughaun. Pallasgreen have already drawn with St. Kieran’s and beat Newcastle West while Ballysteen, the 2008 intermediate champions, top the group - Ballysteen surprised Adare in the first round and beat St. Kieran’s in the second. Both sides are moving well thus far, but perhaps the battle-hardened Pallasgreen will prove too tough a nut to crack for Ballysteen this time out.
Two county senior football championship matches also take place on Sunday evening - throw-in at 6.45pm.
In group two St. Kieran’s take on Claughaun in Bruff. Although there are still three rounds left to play in the group stage this represents a crucial encounter for both sides. Claughaun initially lost to Newcastle West, but then recovered to beat Adare in the second round. St. Kieran’s drew with Pallasgreen in their opening game, but lost to Ballysteen in the second round. St. Kieran’s, if they hope to make an impact on this year’s championship, must beat Claughaun on Sunday evening and will be most observer’s favourites to do so. The Hoops surprised many when beating Adare by two points and won’t represent a push over for St. Kieran’s.
Ballyagran will host the most enticing encounter of the weekend when St. Senan’s face 2007 county champions Ballylanders.
An off-colour St. Senan’s lost by nine points to Fr. Casey’s in the opening round before earning a draw against Drom-Broadford next time out while Ballylanders have already beaten Hospital-Herbertstown and worryingly proved too strong for Fr. Casey’s in round two. Ballylanders however won’t intimidate St. Senan’s in what promises to be a terrific game in Ballyagran. Defeat is simply unthinkable for two ambitious sides with, perhaps, a draw on the cards.

Intermediate Hurling
Although the eagerly-awaited intermediate hurling championship clash between South Liberties and Knockaderry was called off last weekend the group two clash has been re-fixed for Sunday evening in Clarina (6.45pm).

Intermediate Football
Sunday sees three games take place in the Nick Greene Sportsgrounds-sponsored county intermediate football championship.
In group one Galtee Gaels take on Fr. Casey’s at 5pm in Ballyagran. In group two Na Piarsaigh face Gerald Griffins in Askeaton at 6.45pm while Oola take on Athea in Mungret (6.45pm) and Mungret clash with Cappamore in Bruff (6.45pm). All four games promise to be enthralling encounters.

Senior Hurling
Two games take place in the second round of Limerick’s Live 95FM county senior hurling championship on Wednesday evening (August 5), namely Adare v Ahane in Bruff and Emmetts v Claughaun in Caherconlish (both games throw-in at 7pm).
Na Piarsaigh have already booked their place in the quarter-finals thanks to a 0-17 to 1-13 win over Doon last weekend while the last remaining second round clash will not take place until August 19 when Croom face Patrickswell in Kilmallock at 7pm.
Following round one in the loser’s group Tournafulla, Garryspillane, Bruree and Knockainey now find themselves in the draw for the relegation semi-finals.
Round two of the loser’s group involves five confirmed clubs thus far - Bruff, Kilmallock, Murroe-Boher, Granagh-Ballingarry and Doon.
Once the three remaining second round games proper have been played the draw will then be made for the next round of the championship.

Games Development
Inter-county hurling star James Ryan (Garryspillane), along with Ollie Coffey (Ballylanders) and Sean Óg Herbert (Ahane), have been appointed as Games Development Administrators for Limerick.

Brian McDonnell