Munster club draws: Sarsfields gunning for Waterford champions again

Mon, 03 Nov, 2025 - 10:15

Denis Hurley

It will be a return to Waterford for Cork county hurling champions Sarsfields as they open the defence of their AIB Munster Club SHC title next Sunday week.

Sunday’s quarter-final win for the Suirside champions Ballygunner against Limerick representatives Na Piarsaigh at TUS Gaelic Grounds has set up a semi-final clash with Sars. Last year, the Riverstown side - carrying the Cork flag despite county final defeat to Imokilly, as divisional sides cannot enter - stopped the Gunners from achieving the first-ever Munster senior club hurling four-in-row as they won the provincial final in Thurles.

That 3-20 to 2-19 victory reversed the 2-20 to 0-9 quarter-final defeat at Walsh Park in 2023 - and now, with Ballygunner having home advantage, it will be back to the scene of that loss for this year’s semi.

Incidentally, none of the six clubs under the Cork banner across the various Munster club codes and grades will have home advantage for their first outings.

It had already been known that Ballinhassig, winners of the Co-op SuperStores Premier IHC, would be travelling to Tipperary to take on Upperchurch-Drombane in their semi-final, while junior representatives Kilbrittain will also be on the road.

Had Kerry’s Kenmare Shamrocks beaten Knockaderry in the Munster Club JHC quarter-final on Saturday, Kilbrittain would have hosted them in the semi. Instead, Knockaderry’s comeback from nine points down at half-time to win by two means that the Premier JHC winners will be bound for west Limerick.

Aghabullogue players and mentors celebrate after defeating Uibh Laoire in Sunday's McCarthy Insurance Group Premier IFC final. The Coachford side are in Munster action this weekend. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Aghabullogue, who beat Uibh Laoire to take the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier IFC title on Sunday, have a quick turnaround as they go to Tipperary to take on Thurles Sarsfields, whose win over Rockwell Rovers was also on Sunday.

The quarter-final is set for Templetuohy at 1.30pm next Sunday - as a result, Aghabullogue’s IAHC final against Bandon has gone back a week to Sunday, November 16 in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Also next weekend, Cork Premier JFC winners Buttevant take on Shamrocks of Waterford in Dungarvan, that game on Saturday at 1.30pm. St Finbarr’s SFC clash with Clonmel Commercials or Kilsheelan-Kilcash is on Sunday, November 15.