Monaleen in bother in Limerick SFC

For the third year in a row the Monaleen senior footballers are facing a massive challenge if they’re to reach the knockout stages of the Limerick SFC.

The city side are in search of an historic three-in-a-row but have only one point after three games, after they were beaten 2-8 to 0-6 by Dromcollogher-Broadford last Saturday. Goals from Michael Brosnan and Gary Egan fired Drom-Broadford to a big win and the former champions are in a strong position to qualify.

This weekend Monaleen play Ian Ryan’s St Senan’s where another defeat would almost certainly mean they’d miss out on a place in the quarter-final. In reality they need to win their remaining two games to finish on five point. That tally was enough to get them through last year while in 2010 they managed to get through with four. But it’s not looking good for Michael McDermott’s men whose form has been very poor all season.

The news is even worse for the other city side, St Patrick’s, who have lost all three games to date, are rooted to the bottom of Group 2 and look to be facing into a relegation battle. They were beaten 1-13 to 1-9 by St Kieran’s. They play Mountcollins and Galbally in their final two games - two sides who have only one win each - so should have a chance of staying up.

In the other games over the weekend in the Limerick SFC, Fr Casey’s and Newcastle West along with St Kieran’s continued their 100% record. Fr Casey’s got the better of Adare on a scoreline of 1-10 to 1-6 while Newcastle West - with goals from Jamie Lee, Stephen Kelly and Ian Corbett - had a 3-8 to 1-7 win over Ballysteen. The other game over the weekend saw Galbally get their first win with a 3-11 to 1-8 win over Mountcollins.

The championship faces another big round of games this weekend. All eyes will again be on Monaleen as they play Senan’s while the other games in Group 1 see Ballylanders face Newcastle West and Ballysteen play Drom-Broadford.

In Group 2 St Pat’s play last year’s intermediate champions Mountcollins, Galbally play Adare and the unbeaten sides - Fr Casey’s and St Kieran’s face each other.

Meanwhile, in the Limerick IFC Na Piarsaigh had a big 3-8 to 0-8 win over city rivals Mungret. That leaves them on top of Group 1. In the other group, Claughaun lead the way after they were 2-11 to 1-7 winners over Gerald Griffins over the weekend. There were also wins for St Mary’s-Sean Finns and Pallagreen while Croom gave a walkover to Oola. Next week’s big games see Na Piarsaigh play Bruff, Mungret take on Oola and Claughaun play Bruree.

WEEKEND RESULTS

LIMERICK SFC

GROUP 1 - Dromcollogher-Broadford 2-8 Monaleen 0-6; Newcastle West 3-8 Ballysteen 1-7; St Senan’s 2-13 Ballylanders 0-11

GROUP 2 - Fr Casey’s 1-10 Adare 1-6; Galbally 3-11 Mountcollins 1-8; St Kieran’s 1-13 St Patrick’s 1-9

LIMERICK IFC

GROUP 1 - Na Piarsaigh 3-8 Mungret 0-8; Bruff 0-11 Hospital-Herbertstown 1-7; Oola w/o Croom scr

GROUP 2 - St Mary’s- Sean Finn’s 1-15 Athea 0-6; Pallasgreen 2-12 Bruree 1-8; Claughaun 2-11 Gerald Griffins 1-7

WEEKEND FIXTURES

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17

LIMERICK SFC

Mick Neville Park: St Pat’s v Mountcollins at 8pm

LIMERICK IFC

Clarina: Palasgreen v Gerald Griffins at 6.30pm

Askeaton: Claughaun v Athea at 6.30pm

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18

LIMERICK SFC

Rathkeale: Ballysteen v Drom-Broadford at 6.30pm SFC

Bruff: Galbally v Adare at 6.30pm SFC

Newcastle West: Fr Casey’s V Adare at 6.30pm SFC

LIMERICK IFC

Caherconlish: Mungret v Oola at 6.30pm

Caherelly: Na Piarsaigh v Bruff at 6.30pm

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19

LIMERICK SFC

Kilmallock: Ballylanders V Newcastle West at 1pm

Mick Neville Park: St Senan’s V Monaleen at 1pm

LIMERICK iFC

Bruff: Croom v Hospital-Herbertstown at 6.30pm

Ballyagran: St Mary’s-Sean Finns v Bruree at 6.30pm