Fixtures revealed for opening round of Limerick Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

THE LIMERICK premier intermediate hurling championship gets underway next week. Eight teams will battle it out to make the jump up to senior hurling. 

The premier intermediate hurling championship is a round-robin series with each club guaranteed seven games. After the round-robin series, the top four teams advance to the semi-final. The team that finish in 8th place will be relegated into the intermediate grade for the 2026 season. 

2024 semi-finalists Effin meet Croagh-Kilfinny on Thursday July 24 in Ballyagran at 7pm. Effin will be strongly backboned by Limerick senior hurlers Nickie Quaid, Fergal O'Connor and Patrick O'Donovan. Quaid could make the switch back into goals after picking up an ACL injury last November. Patrick O'Donovan could miss the opening round, the UL student has been lining out with Na Fianna in San Francisco during the summer.

Croagh Kilfinny claimed the Intermediate Hurling Championship title in 2024, finally securing victory after losing three consecutive finals. Ex Limerick hurler Seamus Hickey and current Limerick footballers Andrew Meade and Adam Shanagher are part of the Croagh-Kilfinny side. 

READ NEXT: Opening round of Limerick senior club hurling championship fixtures announced

Granagh-Ballingarry take on Glenroe on Friday July 25 in Kilmallock at 7pm. Granagh Ballingarry narrowly missed out on qualifying into the knockout stages last year. Paudie Murphy and Luke Flynn are crucial players for the west Limerick outfit. Former Limerick goalkeeper David McCarthy and Limerick U20 star Darren Frewen will hoping they can guide Glenroe to a positive start in this year's championship. Glenroe narrowly avoided relegation in 2024. 

Last year's premier intermediate finalists Garryspillane face South Liberties who were relegated from the senior ranks last year on Saturday July 26 in Bruff at 7pm. The Knocklong based club will be hoping they can go one step further this year and there is plenty of quality at their disposal with players like Hugh Flanagan, Declan Heavey and Mark Quinlan. Limerick hurling star Barry Nash is a key figure for South Liberties

Blackrock and Bruff face off in the final game of the weekend in the premeir intermeidate hurling championship on Sunday July 27 at 7pm in Knocklong. Limerick corner back Sean Finn and Sean Casey will both line out for Bruff in the PIHC. Mary Immaculate student Jimmy Quilty had an impressive Fitzgibbon Cup and he will be hoping to lead Blackrock into the knockout stages.