Limerick SFC match previews

The Limerick SFC starts this evening, all six matches are previewed

ADARE V MONALEEN

FRIDAY MAY 3 IN BALLYBROWN AT 7.00

Both sides struggled last year and weren’t involved in the knockout stages. Both return to former managers for 2013 with Monaleen returned to Ger Lawlor and former Limerick senior football manager Paddy Mulvihill back at the helm in Adare.

Monaleen will be without injured duo Brian Geary and Seamus Hickey for Friday’s encounter.

Inter-county man Ger Collins is also a doubt due to illness that kept him out of Limeric’ks league final victory over Offaly.

Muiris Gavin has returned for another season with Monaleen, but usual faces like Barry Fitzpatrick, Luke Kavanagh and Eoin Keating are now all abroad.

Adare are going with youth but will look to Stephen Lavin to lead with experience.

Prediction: Monaleen

ST KIERANS V ST PATRICKS

FRIDAY MAY 3 IN BRUFF AT 7.00

Both are under new management this season with the city side calling on the experiernce of former Drom-Broadford Munster club winning manager John Brudair.

But preparations for The Saints can’t have been smooth with players involved with soccer side Pike Rovers and rugby side Richmond on their respective glory trails.

St Kierans could be without two of their three inter-county men with Johnny McCarthy and Jim O’Donovan both absent from the Limerick matchday squad in Croke Park due to injury.

The men in green and gold showed some promise last season and will look to get off to a winning start to build on that.

Prediction: St Kierans

PALLASGREEN V NEWCASTLE WEST

SATURDAY MAY 4 IN KILMALLOCK AT 7.00

All eyes will be on Newcastle West this Saturday as Teddy McCarthy leads out the club into county championship action for the first time.

The arrival of the former Cork All-Ireland winner could be just what they need to go one better than their county final defeats of the last two seasons.

And, they have brought in Billy Lee as coach.

However, they are missing Shay Lyons, who transferred to Cork and Thomas Quilligan won’t be involved on Saturday.

Stephen Kelly also looks likely to start on the bench as he battles back to full fitness.

Pallasgreen have stuck with the management that led them to intermediate glory last season.

Lorcan O’Dywer and colleagues will be anxious to make a winning return but the magpies could be too strong.

Prediction: Newcastle West

MOUNTCOLLINS V GALBALLY

FRIDAY MAY 3 IN FEENAGH AT 7.00

Galbally were quarter-finalists last season while Mountcollins also enjoyed some good results.

In a difficult group, both will see this as a season defining game, albeit round one.

U-21 inter-county colleagues James Brouder and Stephen Cahill will face Patrick O’Donnell.

As always if James Ryan lines out for Galbally curbing his influence will be key.

The south Limerick men have made an encouraging start to the All-County League and are favoured here.

Prediction: Galbally

BALLYSTEEN V BALLYLANDERS

SATURDAY MAY 4 IN BALLINGARRY AT 7.00

Both sides will recall their meeting in the final round last season.

For Ballysteen it was a win that propelled them to new heights, while the south Limerick men were denied a knockout spot.

Ballysteen have added Moss McCarthy to their management team and last week’s West title is the perfect early season boost.

Danny Neville is struggling with injury and would be a big loss.

Ballylanders will be out for revenge but high flying Ballysteen should be full of confidence.

Prediction: Ballysteen

DROMCOLLOGHER-BROADFORD V FR CASEYS

SUNDAY MAY 5 IN TOURNAFULLA AT 7.00

What a game to start the championship and should have focused the early season thoughts of both.

The champions beat the Abbeyfeale men in last year’s semi-final but will be without Derry McCarthy for the opening rounds. Tommy Stack is now part of the management team but all others are still involved, although Jason Stokes is carrying an injury.

The club were boosted last weekend when they won a second successive county U-21 B hurling championship and some of those young stars will be on the fringes of senior places on the football side.

Fr Caseys changed management and Dave Keating is now calling the shots.

They were missing players in the West final loss to Ballysteen and getting all on the field for the settled line-up will be key

Limerick finished with four ‘Casey’s men on the field in Croke Park last Sunday and their presence could spur an early round shock.

Prediction: Fr Caseys