Munster club hurling: Cork sides await identity of provincial opponents

Most of Cork’s AIB Munster Club Hurling Championship representatives should know their provincial opponents by the end of this weekend.

The Munster Council currently operate a system where clubs from counties that reach All-Ireland senior finals receive byes to the club championship semi-finals. That means that Cork’s three hurling entries - Sarsfields at senior level, Ballinhassig at intermediate and Kilbrittain at junior - will all have another fortnight’s worth of preparation, but this weekend sees the quarter-final ties take place.

Waterford’s Ballygunner, who won three consecutive senior titles before being dethroned by Sarsfields in last year’s final, are in action on Sunday afternoon as they travel to TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick to take on the Shannonside champions Na Piarsaigh (3.30pm).

The winners of that game will then have home advantage against Sars on Sunday, November 16, on the same day that Éire Óg of Ennis do battle with Tipperary’s Loughmore-Castleiney at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg.

Along with the Cork sides involved, Tipperary’s representatives have also received quarter-final byes and the draw for the AIB Munster Club IHC brought both counties together in a semi-final tie.

Ballinhassig won this title back in 2005, en route to All-Ireland glory - and they discovered their opposition last week when Upperchurch-Drombane overcame Carrick Swan to take the second-tier title in the Premier County.

The identity of the other two teams in the last four will be known by Sunday evening. Tomorrow, Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field is the venue for the meeting of Waterford side Tallow and Limerick’s Garryspillane (1.30pm) in a game which will have Kilbrittain’s Patrick O’Mahony as its referee.

On Sunday Clare’s O’Callaghan’s Mills go up against Abbeydorney, the Kerry senior champions. That game is in Ennis, also with a 1.30pm start.

At junior level, Kilbrittain’s eyes will be on Templenoe, which hosts the clash between Kerry intermediate champions Kenmare Shamrocks and Limerick’s Knockaderry at 1.30pm tomorrow. Kenmare have former Mayfield man Dan Lucey in their ranks while the game is refereed by Nemo Rangers’ Canice Walsh.

In tomorrow’s other junior quarter-final, Kilrossanty of Waterford take on The Banner of Clare in Lemybrien at 1.30pm. The winners of that will advance to meet either Cahir or Rockwell Rovers of Tipperary in the semi-final in a fortnight.