Limerick senior football sides gear up for another hectic weekend of championship fixtures

THE second round of the Irish Wire Products Ltd County Senior Football Championship gets underway this Thursday, July 4 as the Limerick senior teams scramble to gain victories before the large break in the championship.

In group one of the county senior championship Adare, St Kieran’s and 2024 senior football newcomers Mungret St Paul’s registered victories in their opening round games against Monaleen, Ballylanders and Na Piarsaigh respectively. 

Adare, bolstered by the return of manager Harry Gleeson, showed their intentions for the 2024 championship with a hugely confident 1-13 to 2-4 win over Monaleen.

It was Monaleen who were quickest out of the traps racing into a 1-1 to 0-0 after seven minutes with their goal coming from Paul O’Shea. 

Last year’s county finalists regrouped and hit the next seven points in a row to have leading 1-1 to 0-7 at the break. Jeffrey Alfred and Michael O’Mahony were on target from the placed along with the lively Mikey Lyons chipping in with two points from play had Glesson’s charges leading.

A goal from Niall Loughran gave Monaleen some hope but the victors kept the scoreboard ticking and hung on for a six point victory.

Mungret St Paul’s produced a strong performance against Na Piarsaigh in Claughan coming away with a 2-14 to 0-3 victory.

The victors looked impressive and gave the Na Piarsaigh defence huge problems throughout the 60 minutes. It was a difficult night for Na Piarsaigh who were without their captain Evan Sweeney, goalkeeper Eoghan Sherlock and Evan O’Brien who suffered an ACL injury. 

With these injury concerns the city side will attempt to bounce back against Ballylanders this Friday, July 5 at 7:30pm in Hospital. Mungret will face stiff competition against Adare this Thursday in their second round game in Askeaton also at 7:30pm. 

Impressive St Kieran’s ran out convincing winners over Ballylanders in perfect conditions for football last week on a score line 3-11 to 0-8 in the final game of group one. Kieran’s were well on top from the beginning of the clash and now take on Monaleen on Saturday, July 6 in Adare at 3pm as the Castletroy side fight for a vital win in the championship.

In group two of the Irish Wire Products Ltd County Senior Football Championship 2023 champions Newcastle West got off a winning start against rivals Fr Casey’s, 1-12 to 1-9. Just two weeks ago Fr Casey’s had beaten Newcastle West 0-10 to 0-8 in the final of the Bon Secours Hospital Limerick Senior Football League.

However, bolstered by the return of their inter-county contingent, Newcastle West laid down a marker with this round one victory. They now face Kildimo Pallaskenry in the second round of the championship on Friday, July 5 in the Bog Gardens at 7:30pm.

Kildimo Pallaskenry ran out winners against Ballysteen 1-13 to 3-6 in their round one game after a final quarter surge. The winners bounced back from the depths of adversity to score 1-6 without reply in the final quarter and squeeze past their rivals Ballysteen by the narrowest of margins in Rathkeale’s Seán Finn Park.

Ballysteen will hope to bounce back against Galtee Gaels this Friday also at 7:30pm in Kilmallock. 

Oola fell short to Galtee Gaels in the final round one game of the senior football championship last week, 1-9 to 0-9. Gaels held on to their goal lead to register their first win of the 2024 championship. Oola face off against wounded Fr Casey’s in Clarina this Friday at 7:30pm.