Light shines on hurlers

THE installation of floodlighting at the Gaelic Grounds has proven a spectacular success thus far.
But now the lighting, second only in quality to Croke Park’s, at the Ennis Road venue faces the litmus test when the Gaelic Grounds hosts the county senior hurling quarter-final clash of Ahane and Emmets on Thursday night (throw-in 8pm).
Emmets are favourites to beat a mis-firing Ahane and book their place in the semi-finals alongside Murroe-Boher, Na Piarsaigh and, of course, champions Adare.
A whole host of attractive games take place this weekend with the county senior football semi-finals grabbing the eye on Saturday afternoon. First up comes the clash of defending champions Drom-Broadford and the 2008 intermediate champions Ballysteen in Newcastle West at 2pm.
That enticing contest will be followed by another tantalising battle between Fr. Casey’s and Pallasgreen in Kilmallock at 4.30pm. The action doesn’t stop there however.
Saturday afternoon will also see the mettle of two proud clubs tested when Ballybricken-Bohermore face Cappamore in an intermediate hurling relegation final - Caherconlish at 4pm - while at the opposite end of that hard-fought and entertaining championship Ballybrown take on Monaleen in a county semi-final in the Gaelic Grounds at 3.45pm.
Two quarter-finals will also be contested in the county intermediate football championship on Sunday afternoon.
Na Piarsaigh take on 2008 county junior A champions Bruff in Claughaun at 2.30pm while at 8pm, once more under lights at the Gaelic Grounds, St. Patrick’s face off against city division rivals Mungret with Oola and Galbally awaiting the winners in the semi-finals.
For a full preview of all this weekend’s games please see page five.

Ladies football
Meanwhile St. Ailbe’s Maire Halvey, along with selectors Pat O’Sullivan and Tom Barron, will lead the Limerick ladies footballers into their first-ever All-Ireland final this Sunday morning.
On Sunday, September 27 the Limerick ladies football team will face Antrim in the junior All-Ireland final (12pm) in Croke Park.
The game will be televised live on TG4 and will feature as part of an attractive triple header at GAA headquarters - the junior decider will be followed by the intermediate final between Clare and Fermanagh (2pm) while at 4pm the senior final will see Cork face Dublin.
And, Maire Halvey has this week called on the ‘Green Army’ to mobilize in support of her players: “Limerick is known all over the country as having brilliant supporters of their inter-county teams and we want that trend to continue on Sunday. We want people to get up there to Croke Park and support the green and white jersey.
“We’re trying to make history in Croke Park on Sunday.
“The girls have been dreaming about a day like this, it’s huge for us and to get support in Dublin would be wonderful,” Maire Halvey said.
En route to this final Limerick drew with Antrim (1-15 to 3-9) and beat Carlow (2-11 to 2-5) while they saw off Louth (4-11 to 2-7) at the semi-final stage.
The public reaction on Shannonside to the Limerick girls surge to the final has been startling and has forced the County Board to make even more tickets available from the following outlets.
From Wednesday through Friday tickets will be available to buy from the Gaelic Grounds (10am to 1pm & 2pm to 5pm).
Then on Thursday evening in the Woodlands Hotel (Adare) tickets will be on sale from 8-9pm.
Tickets are also available to buy on www.ladiesgaelic.ie
For a full preview of this historic occasion please turn to page four.

Brian McDonnell