Former champions Claughaun now face the dreaded drop

CLAUGHAUN, who have won the county senior football championship on 14 occasions, are now staring potential relegation in the face - following the final round of group games the Hoops must now take on Newcastle West in a play-off with the loser of that game facing the dreaded drop.
Claughaun prepared for Saturday night’s encounter with Ballysteen knowing that a win would propel near neighbours St. Patrick’s into the relegation play-off, but the Hoops lost by five points (0-3 to 0-8) in Clarina and must now steel themselves for a battle with Newcastle West side who most recently beat Fr. Casey’s 1-10 to 0-9.
Group one of the Limerick’s Live 95FM county senior football championship concluded with Claughaun’s disappointing result against Ballysteen, Drom-Broadford’s 1-8 to 0-9 win over St. Kieran’s and St. Patrick’s 2-10 to 1-11 win over Monaleen. St. Pat’s stormed to an impressive two-point win over Monaleen in Claughaun and thereby ensured their survival in the senior ranks, but were cruelly ruled out of the knock-out stages on scoring difference.
Monaleen will now face Fr. Casey’s in the quarter-finals (scheduled for the weekending Sunday, September 12). Drom-Broadford, the defending champions, progress as group one winners directly to the semi-finals while the second placed Ballysteen will take on Ballylanders in the quarter-finals. Adare won group two and maintained their 100 per cent record with a 1-10 to 0-7 win over Pallasgreen on Saturday evening. Although Fr. Casey’s lost to Newcastle West the Abbeyfeale men were already guaranteed their place in the knock-out stages while Ballylanders took the honours in a winner-takes-all afair at Ballyagran when they beat St. Senan’s 1-14 to 1-9.
On Sunday evening group one of the county intermediate football championship concluded with a win for Mungret over Athea, Hospital-Herbertstown beat Cappamore and Na Piarsaigh saw off Mountcollins. In group two Galbally beat Bruff, Gerald Griffins beat Croom and Oola enjoyed a five-point win over Galtee Gaels.
Those results combined now mean that Oola and Hospital-Herbertstown progress directly to the sem-finals as group winners. In the quarter-finals Mountcollins will meet Bruff and Mungret face Galbally. The relegation final will pit Cappamore against the Galtee Gaels.
Meanwhile the Limerick ladies footballers fought their way back into the All-Ireland junior final on Saturday thanks to a 1-11 to 0-8 semi-final win over Wexford at St. Lachtain’s Park in Freshford, County Kilkenny.
The Tommy Stack-managed side proved far too strong for Wexford with star forward Dympna O’Brien contributing 1-9 to Limerick’s tally while inspirational full-back Sandra Healy walked away with the player of the match award.
Limerick lost last year’s All-Ireland final to Antrim, but enjoy an opportunity to set the record straight on Sunday, September 26 when they will face Louth in the decider.

BRIAN MCDONNELL