Limerick Senior Football Championship takes centre stage

FIVE games in the opening round of the Limerick senior football championship take place this week. Meanwhile, Galtee Gaels face St Kieran's in round one of the Limerick SFC on Tuesday August 12 in Ballyagran, 7pm.

Thursday, July 17

GROUP ONE
Na Piarsaigh v Oola in Caherconlish at 7pm

LAST year quarter-finalists Na Piarsaigh face Oola in the first game of the Limerick SFC. Timmy Dalton replaces Micheal Lynch as Na Piarsaigh senior football manager, while Kem Downey returns as manager of the east Limerick club.

Ex Limerick footballer Gordon Brown, captain Evan Egan and sharpshooter Dylan Cronin will be crucial for Caherdavin club this year.

Limerick goalkeeper Josh Ryan is expected to feature outfield for Oola, while Limerick U20 stars Paddy Downey and Tom Ryan will be key to their sides's hopes this season.

VERDICT: Na Piarsaigh

Saturday, 19 July

Adare v Fr Casey's in Newcastle West at 4pm

ADARE and Fr Casey's meet in a repeat of last year's county final at the weekend. Fr Casey's have built on their form they showed in 2024 and they won the Division one league this year.

Casey's' Mark McCathy, Fiachra Cotter, Rory O'Brien and Diarmuid Buckley have all seen gametime for Jimmy Lee's side.
Daniel Daly and former Limerick footballer Adrian Enright have been some of the most consistent performers for the Abbeyfeale based club.Michael O'Brien has replaced Eoin Joy as manager of Fr Casey's.

Harry Gleeson remains in charge of the Adare senior football team. Adare's Paul Maher, Jeffrey Alfred and Oran Collins represneted Limerick at county level this year. Gleeson's charges are aiming to win two SFC titles in-a-row for the first time since 2018. Adare will once again look to key players Hugh Bourke, Robbie Bourke, Eoghan Costelloe, Joe Sweeney, and Shane O'Connor to lead their charge this season.

VERDICT: Fr Casey's

Monaleen v Rathkeale in Croom at 5pm

MONALEEN and Rathkeale will be keen to get off to a good start in the senior football championship. It was a challenging year in 2024 for the Castletroy-based club, who escaped the relegation final by the narrowest of margins, recording just one victory and suffering four defeats in the group stage.

Eddie Cosgrave's side have hit the ground running in 2025 and Monaleen were narrowly defeated by Fr Casey's in the league final.

Rathkeale make the return to senior football after winning the intermediate championship.The reigning intermediate champions are strongly bolstered by the presence of Limerick senior footballers Barry Coleman, Andrew Meade, and Adam Shanagher. They will come against their inter-county Darragh Murray, Tadgh O'Siochru and Conall O'Duinn.

VERDICT: Monaleen

GROUP TWO

Friday July 18
Mungret St Paul's v Newcastle West, Adare, 7pm

ARGUABLY one of the standout clashes of the weekend, both teams fell short at the semi-final stage of last year’s Limerick Senior Football Championship.

Newcastle West claimed three consecutive Limerick SFC titles from 2021 to 2023, and the Magpies will be eager to reclaim their place at the summit of Limerick football.

Mungret St Paul's are a club on the rise, and the city side will be keen to continue their upward momentum. This clash promises to go right down to the wire, with plenty of inter-county talent on display. Mungret St Paul's will look to key figures like Killian Ryan, Jason Hassett, and Darragh O'Hagan, while Newcastle West will be anchored by Darren O'Doherty, Iain Corbett, and Emmet Rigter.

VERDICT: Draw

Saturday July 19

Kildimo Pallaskenry v Ballylanders, Kilmallock, 7pm

DECLAN Nash takes over the reins in Kildimo-Pallaskenry. Kildimo-Pallaskenry struggled missing Cathal Downes and Tony McCarthy through injury last year. McCarthy and Peter Nash are on the back of impressive seasons for Jimmy Lee's side, while Downes has taken a break from inter-county football this year.

Ballylanders will be aiming to make a strong start after securing their senior status with a vital win over Ballysteen in last year’s relegation final. The South Limerick club will look to big performances from Danny Frewen and Jimmy Barry Murphy.

VERDICT: Kildimo-Pallaskenry