Limerick Senior Hurling Championship permutations ahead of Super Saturday

THERE are six games down for decision in round five of the Whitebox Limerick Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday. This weekend sees the final round of group action in the Limerick SHC. 

Next weekend will see the Limerick SHC quarter-finals take place. 

Na Piarsaigh v Patrickswell on Saturday in Claughaun at 3:30pm

Na Piarsaigh have already booked their place directly into the Limerick Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals. Mike Casey made his first start for Na Piarsaigh this year in round three against Kilmalllock, while Peter Casey made an appearance off the bench. Saturday will give Shane O'Neill the opportunity to rotate his squad and give more players gametime. Conor Boylan who has previously been involved with the Limerick senior hurling squad remains sidelined through injury. 

Patrickswell have already suffered relegation into group two of the SHC. Declan O'Grady's side will be aiming to finish their group campaign on a high.

Verdict: Na Piarsaigh

Kilmallock v Ballybrown on Saturday in Newcastle West at 5pm

After's Ballybrown's narrow defeat to Doon in round four and Kilmallock's loss to Na Piarsaigh, the clash between those two clubs is effectively a knock-out clash as defeat for either side would mean elimination should Ahane overcome Doon. The Clarina based club have recorded two victories and suffered two losses in their opening four games. Meanwhile, Kilmallock have played out two draws, registered a win and sufffered a loss in their group games. 

Aidan O'Connor's scoring form has been crucial to Ballybrown's impressive performances throughout the Limerick SHC, O'Connor has hit 2-38 for Ballybrown. Meanwhile, Kilmallock's Shane O'Brien has been on target with 1-25 for the south Limerick club. 

Verdict: Draw

Ahane v Doon on Saturday in Cappamore at 5pm

Ahane got their championship campaign back on track with a victory over Patrickswell on in round four of the Limerick SHC. They know that a win over Doon and a defeat for either Kilmallock or Ballybrown will see them advance into the quarter-finals. After finishing fifth in the last five year's Ahane sharpshooter Tom Morrissey said they are keen to make the quarter-finals.

"We finished with four points last year but didn't get out of the group. We are on three points going into the last round, we've been knocking on the door we have finished in fifth place in the last five years. We'd love to get out of the group and see a quarter-final, we have to win the last day out if that's going to be a possibility," added Morrissey. 

County champions Doon have already secured their place in the knock-out stages, but Derek McGrath’s men will be targeting victory over Ahane this weekend to guarantee a direct route to the semi-final. Even in defeat, Doon could still progress to the last four. They currently sit on six points with a scoring difference of +19, while Ballybrown trail on four points with a difference of +4, and Kilmallock also have four points but with a difference of –7. That superior scoring margin should stand strongly in Doon’s favour.

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Group Two

Monaleen v Kildimo-Pallaskenry in Clarina on Saturday at 2pm 

After missing out on promotion to group one last year, Monaleen have secured promotion into group one for the 2026 season. Eoin Brislane's side are also already through to the SHC quarter-finals. Donnacha Ó Dálaigh has been in impressive form in front of the posts and Lorcan Lyons has been a conistent performer for the Castletroy outfit. Kildimo-Pallaskenry know a defeat this weekend and a win for Dromin-Athlacca will see them enter the relegation play-offs. A team cannot be relegated on scoring difference or the head to head rule in the Limerick SHC. That would leave Kildimo-Pallaskenry and Dromin-Athlacca level on three points.

Adare v Newcastle West in Mick Neville Park on Saturday at 2pm 

Adare are in second place on five points in group two of the SHC. Mark Foley's side are in pole position to reach knockout hurling if they defeat Newcastle West in their final group game. A win will see them finish in second place and advance into the SHC quarter-finals. It has been a remarkable turnaround for Adare considering they lost Wayne McNaMara and Willie Griffin to injury for some games in the championship. Former Limerick captain Declan Hannon hit 2-2 for Foley's side in their victory over Dromin-Athlacca. 

Newcastle West need a win against Adare and they need Dromin-Athlacca to beat Mungret St Paul's for Derry McMahon's side to advance into the knockout stages. Derry McMahon's charges know a defeat this weekend and a win for Dromin-Athlacca will see them enter the relegation play-offs. A team cannot be relegated on scoring difference or the head to head rule in the Limerick SHC. That would leave Newcastle West and Dromin-Athlacca level on three points.

Dromin-Athlacca v Mungret St Paul's in Bruff on Saturday at 2pm

Dromin-Athlacca look like favourites to make the drop to the premier intermediate grde sitting on one point after four games. The South Limerick club need to beat Mungret St Paul's if they have any chance of surviving in the SHC and hope that Monaleen and Adare can get wins against Kildimo-Pallaskenry and Newcastle West. That would then leave Newcastle West, Dromin-Athlacca and Kildimo-Pallaskenry all on three points. A relegation semi-final and final would then be played to decide who makes the drop to the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship. 

It has been a mixed campaign for Mungret St Paul's so far but it is simple for Brian Begley's side on Saturday afternoon beat Dromin-Athlacca and Newcastle West defeat Adare and they are through to the quarter-finals. A draw or defeat will not be enough for the city side to play in the knockout stages.